HOUSTON, Texas- The Wichita State softball team continues its non-conference road trip, starting March with two games against Texas Southern while facing DePaul and Texas State in the Red & White Showcase. 

JUST KEEP HITTING
Bailee Nickerson's offensive heat has kept the Shockers moving in non-conference play. The Paris, Texas native hit home runs in back-to-back games for the Shockers on Sunday, driving in the go-ahead run in the extra innings victory over Abilene Christian. Nickerson collected her second career Conference Honor Roll this week and has a career long eight-game hitting streak heading into Saturday.

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. 

DON'T COUNT US OUT
When the Shockers have been down to their last out, the party has just gotten started for them at the plate. Wichita State has scored 31 runs with two outs, hitting six out of 11 of its home runs during that stretch.

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 the previous two seasons.

FRESHMEN SENSATIONS
Head coach Kristi Bredbenner has been known to have freshmen come in and compete right away. If Bredbenner elected to start true freshman Sydney McKinney in the season opener, marking the fifth consecutive year that a first-year collegiate player is placed in the starting lineup. Junior catcher Madison Perrigan started her first game as a freshman along with senior Laurie Derrico.

LARGER ROLE
Neleigh Herring has stepped into bigger shoes so far this season, collecting more hits and more RBI in the first five games of the year than the entire 2018 season. Herring is hitting .314 through the first 14 games of the season, leading the team in RBIs with 15 in the process.

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.

PITCHING PRESCENCE
The Shockers' strong start in non-conference is largely due to strong pitching performances in the circle. Bailey Lange and Erin McDonald pitched shutouts in their starts in Louisiana, with the Shockers only giving up a combined nine runs through that five-game stretch. Caitlin Bingham earned the first conference honor roll this season for the Shockers while McDonald was named American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week in week two after combining for 11 strikeouts. Bingham earned her second honor roll of the season, tying her career high of 10 strikeouts in Sunday's win over Abilene Christian.

BUTTERS BOMBS
Madison "Butters" Perrigan found her offensive groove at the Maverick Invitational, obtaining her 100th career hit on Feb. 23 against Abilene Christian. That same day, she hit two home runs, where her three-run shot allowed the Shockers to take a road win at UT-Arlington. Perrigan is upped her batting average to .342, leading the team in home runs and is second in RBIs with 13.

LATE INNING MAGIC
The Shockers have put its best forward when the game is on the line, dominating its opponents in the last three innings. Wichita State has outscored its opponents 31-8 in the final three innings, allowing only two runs in that stretch in the previous five games.

CLEANING THINGS UP
Wichita State's offense relies heavily on clean-up hitter, Wylie Glover. Batting mostly ninth in the order, the Marshall transfer is third on the team in batting average with .379 and has came up with 11 hits. Glover came up with her first home run in that spot against Fairleigh Dickinson on Feb. 17.