Softball | 4/23/2019 11:14:00 AM

 
Wichita State's softball team huddled in right field after Saturday's 11-5 win over East Carolina. That is the routine, win or lose, and most of the Shockers jogged over, smiling and talking, after the final out of a series victory.
 
Behind them came pitcher Bailey Lange wearing a boot, outfielder Asea Webber with a brace on her leg and second baseman Kaylee Huecker with a cast on her arm. Lange and Webber are out for the season. Huecker, injured Friday, may be available for pinch-running duties later this season.
 
The Shockers are dealing with adversity, to be sure, with No. 1 Oklahoma visiting on Wednesday (6 p.m.). However, they seem to take a hit and figure out how to survive. Saturday's win was Wichita State's fifth in its past six games and seventh in the past eight in American Athletic Conference play. 
 
Wichita State (28-20, 9-6 American) is in third place. It faces the American's top teams – at Tulsa (31-15, 12-3) and home vs. South Florida (35-15, 13-2) – in its final conference weekends. 
 
"It's been a rough year, but it's one of those things where you just keep fighting," junior infielder Ryleigh Buck said. "We just keep working hard, keep doing what we can do."
 
The injuries robbed Wichita State of three starters – Lange as the ace pitcher and hitting leadoff, Webber in center field and Huecker at second base. Add to that list sophomore pitcher/outfielder McKenzie Weber, lost to injury in the fall. With Lange out, sophomore transfer Erin McDonald assumed much of the burden in the circle while sophomore Caitlin Bingham alternates between encouraging moments and control issues.
 
"We've had some crazy stuff happen this year and faced a lot of adversity," coach Kristi Bredbenner said after Saturday's win. "For us, it's just making it to practice and making sure we can get a good practice in without having somebody injured."
 
Veterans such as Buck, shortstop Laurie Derrico and catcher Madison Perrigan keep the Shockers on track. Freshmen are also helping in roles formerly scheduled for a year or two down the line. Lauren Mills his hitting. 385 in 17 starts with 20 walks and seven strikeouts. On Saturday, she singled and walked three times as the No. 7 hitter in the order. 
 
"We're never just going to lay down," Perrigan said. "It's good see freshmen stepping up and not being nervous at all, having confidence."
 
Freshman Adi Reese is playing right field as part of the revamped outfield that moves sophomore Wylie Glover from left to center to account for Webber's absence after she started 35 games. Reese started the past five games and is 5 for 14 with three runs and three walks. 
 
"We may not be uber-deep, as far as our numbers go, but we've got some talent," Bredbenner said. "We didn't know we were going to have to use it as deep as we are this year, but they're doing a really good job of being able to step in and fill some really big shoes."
 
Freshman Sydney McKinney started much of the season at third base before playing right field and second in recent games. She took over Lange's job as leadoff hitter early in the season.
 
"It's obviously hard, but it just makes us work harder in practice to know we have to use every single person on the team to get through the season," McKinney said. "Since we're so close, that helps."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.