RUSTON, La. - For the first time this season, the Wichita State softball team swept a doubleheader. After a run-rule win over Southeast Missouri State, the Shockers held Abilene Christian to just three hits on Friday to come out with a 5-1 win.
Caitlin Bingham collected her third win of the season, forcing putouts in 12 of her 15 at-bats in 4.1 innings pitched.
Sydney McKinney's leadoff triple allowed the Shockers to hit the ground running, with the Norborne, Mo., native scoring the go-ahead run off a wild pitch in the top of the first inning. The Shockers continued that momentum in the following inning, with
Ryleigh Buck coming up with a double that put two runners in scoring position.
Wylie Glover took advantage with runners on second and third, driving in
Asea Webber home off a left field single that gave the Shockers a two-run lead. The Shockers continued the momentum following a
Caitlin Bingham strikeout to retire the side, with a
Bailey Lange bunt single and a
Laurie Derrico double putting runners in scoring position.
Lauren Mills hit a grounder that allowed Lange to score from third and extend the Shockers' lead by three runs.
After Derrico ended the fourth inning with a diving catch, she started the top of the fifth inning with a leadoff single. Mills drew a walk and
Madison Perrigan came up with a bunt single that loaded the bases with no outs.
Webber drove in the fourth Shocker runner off a fielder's choice to third base, but Abilene Christian forced the Shockers to retire the side off a ground out and fly out. The Wildcats would not go away quietly, however, with Blair Clayton hitting a solo shot to left center to cut the Shocker lead to three.
The Shockers answered back in the next inning, with Glover snagging a single and advancing to second base off a throwing error by the pitcher. A single by Lange up the middle allowed Glover to score, extending the lead to four.
Erin McDonald came up with a season-high four strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched in relief, coming up with her first career save. The Shockers had four players collect two hits, with Wichita State hitting .312 as a team.
Wichita State (4-3) continues action Saturday in the La Tech Invitational, beginning the doubleheader with host institution, Louisiana Tech, at 5 p.m. followed by a matchup with Mississippi Valley State.