HOUSTON, Texas - The Wichita State softball team fell in game one of the series to Houston 7-0 Friday night. The Shockers opened the game with four base hits in three innings before the bats went quiet. 

The Shockers got their first two base hits in the first with Laurie Derrico and Bailee Nickerson singling, but the Shockers left them stranded. Bailey Lange retired the Cougars in order in the bottom half.

Paige Luellen led off the second with a single down the left field line, eventually getting to third but the Shockers left her stranded as well. In the bottom half the Cougars took the lead with a single getting a runner on base and a standup triple getting her home for a 1-0 lead.

Derrico got on base again in the third, this time through a bouncing ball over the shortstop but again the Shockers left her stranded. In the bottom half the Cougars added four more with two singles and a walk loading the bases. Another single got two home with a single and throwing error adding two more to push the Houston lead to 5-0.

The Shocker bats went quiet in the fourth and fifth, while Houston added a sixth run in the fifth on a double and a throwing error on the same play. They added one more in the sixth to secure the win.

Wichita State dropped to 22-16 on the season, 5-5 in The American, with Lange getting the loss (12-10). The series continues tomorrow with a 2:00 p.m. CT matchup at the Cougar Softball Complex.