CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Wichita State softball team won its first game of the season, defeating Central Michigan 6-2 at the Cougar Classic on Friday. 

Caitlin Bingham pitched a career-high seven innings, striking out four batters in her first complete game. Neleigh Herring obtained a career-high four RBI in the season opener, hitting her first career home run in the process. 

Madison Perrigan lifted the Shockers to an early one-run lead, driving home Laurie Derrico off a triple to right-center in the top of the first inning. Central Michigan scored two runs in the bottom of the first, taking the lead off a sacrifice fly to center and a Wichita State error. 

After Herring tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second, she followed that up in the next inning with a three-run home run to give the Shockers a 5-2 lead. Central Michigan responded with a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth, but Wichita State forced three consecutive outs that protected its three-run advantage. 

Following a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the fifth, the Chippewas led off the following inning with a double. The Shockers did not let Central Michigan rally, however, as Central Michigan was forced into a double play. A groundout to Derrico swung the momentum back toward the Shockers heading into the final inning. 

Asea Webber added to the lead in the top of the seventh inning, hitting a single to left field that allowed Adeline Reese to score from second base. Following a single by Central Michigan, Wichita State held runners at second and third to come up with a four-run win in the season opener. 

The Shockers forced Central Michigan into six straight shutout innings, with Bingham only allowing six hits in the game. Webber and Herring came up with two hits each, driving in five of Wichita State's six runs.