WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 8 @ 8 am - Wichita State vs. Central Michigan
Friday, Feb. 8 @ 10:15 am - Wichita State vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, Feb. 9 @ 5 pm - Wichita State vs. Pitt
Saturday, Feb. 9 @ 7:15 pm - Wichita State at College of Charleston
Sunday, Feb. 10 @ 10:15 am - Wichita State vs. Pitt

Charleston, S.C. - The Wichita State softball team opens the 2019 season on Friday against Central Michigan and Virginia Tech in the Cougar Classic. This will be the first meeting between the Shockers and the Chippewas while Wichita State beat Virginia Tech 5-2 in 2018.

Wichita State will also play Pittsburgh twice and College of Charleston over the course of the three-day tournament.

Series History vs. the Tournament
The Shockers are 3-0 against the tournament field, having won the last meetings vs. College of Charleston and Virginia Tech. Wichita State has never played Central Michigan and Pittsburgh.

Central Michigan - First Meeting
Virginia Tech - 1-0
Pittsburgh - First Meeting
College of Charleston - 2-0

Highlight Reeler
For the fourth consecutive season, Wichita State will have a player who has made at least one SportsCenter Top 10 play in their career. Following the graduation of Mackenzie Wright, who appeared on ESPN for a diving effort against Nebraska in 2016, the Shockers added Marshall transfer Wylie Glover. Glover made a diving catch against James Madison on April 18 that was ranked seventh in top plays that day. 

Added Power
Head coach Kristi Bredbenner added Division I experience in the newcomer slots, signing two transfers to the 2019 roster. Sophomore outfielder Wylie Glover played in 35 games for Marshall while starting 23 of them as a true freshman in 2018. Erin McDonald will add some experience in the pitching circle after posting a 3-0 mark with a 1.84 earned run average at Louisiana Tech. The Shockers have four players who have played in games for other Division I schools prior to coming to WSU. 

Collecting the Accolades
The Shockers collected at least two First Team All-Conference honors last season for the fifth consecutive year. Mackenzie Wright, Laurie Derrico and Bailey Lange earned First Team All-Conference in Wichita State's first year in the American Athletic Conference. The streak began in 2014, with the Shockers earning three First Team All-Conference honors in the Missouri Valley Conference. It had been the first time since 2008 that the program had multiple players named to the First Team.

Getting 'em Around
Senior Laurie Derrico needs eight home runs to move into first place in the Shocker record books. Currently in fourth with 32, if Derrico reaches 40 she will overtake Cacy Williams who played at Wichita State from 2014-16. Derrico has reached double figures in home runs in each of the last two seasons.

Double Duty
Wichita State's returning pitchers not only get the job done in the circle, but transfer that success in the batter's box. The Shocker pitching staff combined for 224 at-bats in 2018, combining for 51 hits.

Up Next
The Shockers will travel to Ruston, La. for the Louisiana Tech Invitational, facing five opponents in three days.