WICHITA, Kan. - The Wichita State softball team starts a series of 10 consecutive games at Wilkins Stadium, starting with Kansas on Wednesday. 

SCOUTING KANSAS
Kansas is attempting to find themselves this season under first-year head coach Jennifer McFalls. The Jayhawks have started the season 8-19, but have challenged themselves in the non-conference before competing in Big 12 play. Kansas, however is coming off three out of five wins at home, including two shutout wins over Nebraska over the weekend. The Jayhawks are led offensively by Shelby Gayre, who heads the bats with a .383 batting average. Madison Sykes (.329 batting average) and Morgan Wynne (.308 batting average) also provide some power at the plate.

LAST MEETING
Although the Shockers won the Fall Season matchup this year, the last meeting with KU occurred in 2017. Behind Katie Malone's shutout pitching, the Shockers obtained a six-run win in Lawrence.

KU CONNECTIONS
Wichita State and KU Softball have had various connections over the years and that trend has continued during the 2019 season. Career home runs leader for Wichita Cacy Williams is in her first season as the Director of Operations for the Jayhawks. Current Wichita State Director of Operations Taylor Hatfield is a former player at Kansas. Hatfield finished her senior season in 2014 leading the team with three triples and was fourth in the Big 12. She finished her senior season with a .322 batting average.

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 49 runs with two outs, hitting 10 out of 20 of its home runs during that stretch.

GETTING 'EM AROUND
Senior Laurie Derrico needs four home runs to move into first place in the Shocker record books. Currently in second with 36, 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.

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 59-18 in the final three innings.

STARTING THINGS OFF
Wichita State's offense relies heavily on leadoff hitter, Wylie Glover. Batting mostly first in the order, the Marshall transfer is third on the Shockers in batting average with a .338 mark and has came up with 24 hits. Glover came up with her first home run against Fairleigh Dickinson on Feb. 17.

LAYING DOWN THE BUNTS
In addition to making an impact at the plate for Wichita State, Wylie Glover has managed to get on first base off the bunt. Glover is 8-for-11 when bunting with one sacrifice bunt, hitting .727 during that stretch.

MAKING THINGS DIFFICULT
The Shockers have benefitted from the pitching prescence of Erin McDonald. In addition to leading the charge to the first no-hitter since 2014 on Sunday, the Norman, Okla., native has made life miserable for opposing offenses. McDonald has forced her opponents to hit .177 so far, ranking fourth-lowest in the AAC. She has also come in the clutch in late innings, co-leading the league in saves with three.

WHAT'S UP WITH THE CLEANUP SPOT?
Wichita State's no. 4 batter has had the most production out of any of the batting order spots. Out of the five players that have started in those spots, four of them have hit .333 or better. Lauren Mills leads that batting average with a .500 mark while Neleigh Herring hit .444 in that spot.

LONG TIME NO HITS
For the first time since 2014, Wichita State came up with its first no-hitter. On Sunday against Nebraska, Caitlin Bingham started the game while Erin McDonald pitched seven innings and didn't allow a hit to claim the first no-hitter since Katie Malone on April 16, 2014 in a 12-0 victory over Missouri State. Sunday was the first time a no-hitter took place in a seven inning game since 2006, when Margo Pruis shutdown Northern Colorado and struck out 13 batters in a 6-0 victory. The no-hitter also marked the first time since May 9, 2003 (Lindsay Craig and Lindsey Lang vs. Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament) where two Shocker pitchers combined to no-hit the opponent.