WICHITA, Kan. - With the conference leader coming to Wichita to open up American Athletic Conference play, the Wichita State softball team made its opening statement. The Shockers run-ruled the Houston Cougars 13-5 and won the opening game of the series at Wilkins Stadium.

Ryleigh Buck tied her career high with three hits and Kaylee Huecker came up with her first career home run to lead the Shockers offensively. In her 14th start of the season, Caitlin Bingham collected her 11th win of the season after pitching 4.0 innings.

Houston looked to strike first with a runner on third in the top of the first and second inning, but Bingham forced a groundout to third and fly out to left field to keep the game scoreless.

Buck drove in the game's first run in the bottom of the second inning after coming up with a left field single, with Neleigh Herring following up with a double that allowed Buck to score. Sydney McKinney kept the hit parade going with a double to left field that drove in Herring from second, giving the Shockers a 3-0 lead.

After Wichita State scored another run off a passed ball, Madison Perrigan's sixth home run of the season allowed the Shockers to move ahead 6-0 in the bottom of the third. Huecker added three more runs with her first home run of the season, making it a nine-run Shocker lead.

Bailee Nickerson kept the momentum going in the bottom of the fourth, driving in two runs off a double to center field. The Shockers would score another run off a Houston error, making it a 12-0 inning with Houston's last half-inning looming.

The Cougars, however, kept the game alive by scoring their first run off a left field double to start the top of the fifth. After Houston scored on a passed ball, Sarah Barker advanced two runs thanks to a triple to center field. Another double allowed Houston to score their fifth run of the inning, extending the game by cutting the lead down to seven.

Wichita State managed to build its lead back up again, drawing three straight walks before scoring the run-rule run with a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Perrigan was 2-for-2 at the plate and scored a game-high three runs. McKinney extended her hit streak to seven games, her longest of the season and her career.

Wichita State (20-9) continues the series with Houston on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Wilkins Stadium.