WICHITA, Kan. - After sweeping its first road series in conference play at Memphis last weekend, Wichita State looks to keep its momentum against ECU starting on Thursday at 6 p.m. 

SCOUTING ECU
Snapping a 12-game losing streak with an extra innings win over Tulsa on Sunday, ECU comes to Wichita with momentum. After starting the season winning eight of their first nine games, the Pirates have had a roller coaster type season with a 20-23 record. They are currently in last place in the conference standings, looking to get better seeding for the conference tournament with only three conference series left in the season. ECU is led offensively by Rachel McCollum, who leads the team with eight doubles and 37 RBIs while hitting .341. Tyler King has added a spark with a .325 batting average and six doubles, with Ashleigh Inae coming up with 38 hits, 12 RBIs and a .317 batting average. In the circle, Erin Poepping is ECU's ace. She has a 3.11 earned run average while coming up with 135 strikeouts, with Whitney Sanford collecting seven wins while striking out 42 batters.

LAST MEETING
With the series tied at 1-1 in Greenville, N.C., Bailey Lange shut down ECu's offense to allow the Shockers to take control. Behind Lange's complete and only allowing one run and Madison Perrigan coming up with three RBIs, Wichita State claimed a 5-1 win to claim the series on April 29, 2018.

WALK THIS WAY
After drawing 13 walks in the series finale against Memphis on Sunday, the Shockers have had multiple batters advance to first off ball four. Wichita State has five players with at least two consecutive games where they have drawn at least one walk, with the Shockers averaging just under four walks drawn per game.

CLOSING IN ON THE CENTURY MARK
Ryleigh Buck is one hit away from obtaining her 100th career hit as a member of the Wichita State softball team. Buck has collected hits in 31 of Wichita State's 45 games this season, collecting 42 on the year.

GETTING 'EM AROUND
Senior Laurie Derrico needs two home runs to move into first place in the Shocker record books. Currently in second with 38, Derrico would pass Cacy Williams (2014-16). Derrico has reached double figures in home runs in the previous two seasons.

MOVING ON UP
In addition to closing in on Wichita State's home run record, Laurie Derrico recently moved up to third on the Shockers' all-time RBIs list with 133. Derrico passed Ashlynn Lynn (2003-06) and needs just three more to pass Cacy Williams (2014-16) and 21 more to pass Paige Luellen (2013-18) for the record.

FREE SOFTBALL
Wichita State has played in four extra innings games this season, all turning into victories. When the Shockers have to go past the seventh inning, they turn the heat up offensively. They have outscored their opponents 14-1 in extra innings, including a seven-run outing in the top of the eighth in Friday's win at Memphis.

BUTTERS BOMBS
Madison Perrigan is coming off Player of the Week honors after hitting .428 over the past five games and hitting four doubles with eight RBIs. Perrigan leads the American Athletic Conference in home runs, total bases, walks and is fourth in slugging percentage with a .641 mark. She also put herself in a tie for sixth in home runs, having 28 career bombs.

TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM   
Wylie Glover has made contributions on offense without collecting a hit. Glover currently has a four-game streak of coming up with on sacrifice hit, utilizing her at-bats to advance runners in scoring position.

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE
Double plays have been key to Wichita State's defensive success. Ryleigh Buck leads the American Athletic Conference in double plays with 18, with Kaylee Huecker (13) and Laurie Derrico (15)not far behind. Wichita State leads the conference with 23 double plays, six away from tying a program record.

OFFENSIVE POWER
The Shockers are leading the American Athletic Conference in several offensive categories, including hits, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and batting average. Wichita State also holds a commanding lead in home runs and runs scored against its conference foes.

TAKING THE LEAD    
Sydney McKinney has embraced the role of starting in the leadoff spot, having started in that batting order 23 times this season. When McKinney is the leadoff hitter, she is hitting .380 and leading the the team in leadoff hits with 19.