TAMPA, Fla. - The Wichita State softball team opens American Athletic Conference Championship play for the first time in history tomorrow with a first round matchup against the No. 6 seed Tulsa. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET in the single elimination tournament with the game broadcast live on the American Digital Network.
SCOUTING TULSA
The Golden Hurricane were the preseason favorites for the American Athletic Conference title but find themselves as the No. 6 seed heading into the conference tournament. Led by Emily Watson, recently drafted to the National Softball League, they finished with a 10-11 record in The American, 30-23 overall. Jullia Hollingsworth is the batting ace that leads the AAC in batting average collectively and fourth during conference play. Watson leads The American in strikeouts, innings per game and strikeouts per game. The current AAC Pitcher of the Week had a 0.00 ERA vs. UConn, striking out 25 and picking up two wins. She also was named to the All-Conference Second Team.
SERIES HISTORY
The teams have met 49 times in history with this conference tournament meeting being the 50th - the fourth longest series streak aside from Oklahoma State, Kansas and Oklahoma for the Shockers.
LAST MEETING WITH TULSA
The Shockers dropped the series at Wilkins Stadium this season with reigning AAC Pitcher of the Week Emily Watson picking up the Friday and Sunday wins. On Saturday the Shocker bats run-ruled the Golden Hurricane behind four home runs from
Bailee Nickerson,
Madison Perrigan,
Laurie Derrico and
Ryleigh Buck.
QUICK HITS
•
Mackenzie Wright earned AAC Player of the Year honors on May 9. She also earned First Team All-Conference honors alongside
Bailey Lange and
Laurie Derrico.
•
Ryleigh Buck and
Paige Luellen were tabbed to the Second Team All-Conference while
Bailee Nickerson earned All-Rookie honors.
• WSU has won 30 or more games for four straight years.
• The 2018 Shocker squad has hit the second highest amount of home runs in a single season (57) in the record books with at least one game to go.
• Wichita State is 7-3 in its last 10 games.
• The Shockers sit at No. 32 in the latest NCAA RPI Rankings
• WSU averages 1.12 home runs per game which ranks them 12th in the country.
• With one vote in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll on May 8, the Shockers continue to be in one of the two main polls for the 10th consecutive week.
•
Mackenzie Wright has reached base in her first at-bat of the game in 25 of 50 contests.
• Wright is hitting .377 on the year; good for 6th overall in The American. In conference play only, she leads The American in batting average at .453.
• Wright leads the conference in hits and total bases during conference play. Buck leads The American in triples, Derrico leads it in home runs.
•
Bailey Lange earned a spot on the weekly Honor Roll after hitting .333 vs USF with a solo home run and an RBI standup triple. It's her third honor roll nomination this season.
• The American Athletic Conference ranks fourth nationally in the RPI just behind the SEC, Pac-12 and Big-12. Notable conferences behind The American include the ACC and Big Ten.
• In conference play, the Shockers lead The American in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, RBI's, doubles, home runs and total bases. The pitching staff allow the second lowest opponent batting average in the AAC.
• Buck leads the conference in chances and putouts; she also leads The American in fielding double plays. Buck is also 17th in batting average.
• Lange's six saves on the year lead the American Athletic Conference and place her 8th in the NCAA. She leads the conference in batters struck out looking (50) and is third in total strikeouts (178).
• Derrico's team leading 11 home runs over the season rank her second in the conference and third all-time at WSU; she is fifth in slugging percentage and fourth in RBI.
•
Bailey Klitzke has given up the least hits, least runs and least earned runs during conference play.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mackenzie Wright made history after being named the first Shocker to win conference Player of the Year for her performance during the 2018 American Athletic Conference slate. She led the way in batting average, hits, plate appearances, total bases and assists and was second in slugging percentage while being tied for third in runs scored and third in on-base percentage. She also became the third Shocker in history to be tabbed all-conference all four years since Britnee Barnett and Katie McGeenery earned All-Missouri Valley from 2005-2008.
ACCOLADES ON ACCOLADES
Laurie Derrico and
Bailey Lange earned First Team All-Conference honors for their season long performances. Lange leads The American in looking strikeouts, Derrico is second in home runs and tied for first in assists.
Ryleigh Buck and
Paige Luellen earned spots on the second team while
Bailee Nickerson earned a nod to the All-Rookie team.
WE'LL LEAD THE WAY
The Shocker bats lead all but two batting categories during conference play in The American. WSU has the highest batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, RBI's, doubles, home runs and total bases. They are also hitting 1.14 home runs per game, good for 12th in the nation. The season slugging percentage of .472 ranks 29th in the NCAA while the 1.28 doubles per game leads the AAC and is 93rd in the nation.
LEADOFF HITTER HITTING RIGHT
The Shockers leadoff hitter,
Mackenzie Wright, has reached first base in her first at-bat 25 times this season in 50 games.
BOMBS ON BOMBS
With 57 home runs on the year, the Shockers have hit the second highest amount in school history with at least one game to go, second to only the 2016 NCAA Regional team [58] and the 2014 MVC Championship squad [56].
WE LIKE STRONG DEFENSE
After hitting 300 career assists this season, shortstop
Laurie Derrico broke into the Shocker record books at No. 15. Currently at 329, if she reaches 332 she will pass 2017 senior
Kelli Spring for 14th all-time.
DOING IT IN STYLE
Senior
Paige Luellen took control of the career RBI record book after a stellar weekend at the WSU Tournament. The senior struck three home runs that included a grand slam to lift the Shockers out of a six-run hole and a three-run walk-off home run to go 4-0 over the weekend. After taking control of the record book, Luellen is streaking clear and on course to make history as the first Shocker to reach 150 career RBI.
BIG HITTERS
Laurie Derrico and
Paige Luellen are on course to break more records - this time in home runs. Luellen is currently third all-time with 33 and needs just two to move into second and six to tie for first with current Director of Operations
Cacy Williams. Derrico is fourth with 32 and is also second in all-time slugging percentage with .598.
DRAWING AND STEALING
Seniors
Paige Luellen and
Mackenzie Wright both continue to climb the Shocker record books in walks and stolen bases. Luellen is second in walks with 103 [needs one to move into a tie for first] with Wright third in stolen bases with 52 [needs four to move into a tie for first]. On the flip side, if Wright is caught stealing once more she will move into a tie for first all-time in most times caught stealing. This season Wright is 8-for-11 while
Bailey Lange is 7-for-8,
Ryleigh Buck is 5-for-5.
STAYING IN THE LOOP
Follow the Shocker softball program on twitter (
@GoShockersSB) for up-to-date content and in-game updates. You can also become a fan of Wichita State Softball on Facebook (
WichitaStateSoftball) and Instagram (
GoShockersSB).
