GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Wichita State softball team defeated ECU, 5-1, to take the series win and sets up a showdown with USF next weekend in Tampa, Fla., for the regular season conference championship.

The Shocker bats came out hot with four base hits in the first inning. Asea Webber singled up the middle, Laurie Derrico doubled deep down the left field line with a Ryleigh Buck single into shallow right field giving the Shockers the lead. Bailee Nickerson singled to get another runner home with Madison Perrigan's sacrifice fly into right field making it 3-0.

In the second ECU pulled a run back with a leadoff double and two singles getting a Pirate home. A fly-out and spectacular line out catch by Mackenzie Wright at third base stranded the ECU runners.

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth and fifth with the Shockers pushing the lead to 5-1 in the sixth. Bailey Lange singled into shallow left field with Perrigan crushing a home run to center.

Derrico made a highlight reel diving catch in the bottom half with the Shockers going down in order in the seventh. The Pirates added two base runners with their only out of the game left but Lange got the last out on a grounder to get the complete game win and moving to 17-10 on the season.

The Shockers (29-18, 11-7) sit in second position in the American Athletic Conference heading into the final series of the season with the regular season championship up for grabs when they face conference leaders USF in Tampa next weekend. Being a game behind the Bulls, Wichita State must take two out of the three games and hope Memphis or Houston do not sweep the other with both the Tigers and Cougars a single game behind in third position in the standings.