Tournament Schedule
Feb. 21 vs. Louisville at 1:30 p.m., and at Alabama at 4 p.m.
Feb. 22 vs. Louisville at 11 a.m., and vs. Penn State at 6 p.m.
Feb. 23 vs. Penn State at 11 a.m.
 
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Wichita State softball picked up its first win of the Easton Bama Bash with a six inning decision over Penn State, 8-0, but dropped their first game of the day to Louisville, 8-4, at Rhoads Stadium on Saturday.
 
Game 1 vs. Louisville
The Shockers kept the score close for much of the game and held the lead following a three-run effort in the fifth inning, but the Cardinals pulled away with a response in the sixth.
 
Erin McDonald earned the start in the circle versus Louisville and pitched well for most of the game. She gave up three runs in the first five innings to go along with three strikeouts, but the sixth inning proved to be costly for the Shockers.
 
The Cardinals were able to get the bases loaded and capitalized, scoring runs on a walk and HBP off McDonald and then a walk and a fielding error when Hailey Martinez entered in relief.
 
Bailey Urban got the scoring started in the first inning with a solo shot to center field in her first appearance in the two-hole. The Shockers outhit Louisville in the contest, 11-to-8, but eight runners left on base stifled the run column.
 
The only other inning in which the Shockers scored was the fifth. Back-to-back doubles from Urban and Madison Perrigan put one run on the board and a two-run blast from Lauren Mills gave the Shockers their first lead of the tournament.
 
Game 2 vs. Penn State
The lengthy delay between games did nothing to cool down the Shocker bats. The offense produced 11 hits again, but this time the Shockers were able to produce runs from their opportunities. The leadoff batter got on base half the time and the Shockers were a blistering .417 with runners in scoring position.
 
The first three innings were uneventful for the Shockers. Penn State starter Vanessa Oatley forced a number of ground and fly outs in the beginning of the game. The flood gates opened for the Shockers in the fourth inning after they got the bases loaded with no outs.
 
Neleigh Herring got brought the first run in with a fielder's choice that allowed Urban to come home. Ryleigh Buck was the next batter and proceeded to hit a home run to left field that put the Shockers up four. Sydney McKinney brought in the final run of the inning with a single straight up the middle.
 
Caitlin Bingham started for the Shockers and had an excellent outing. She pitched four innings and gave up only one hit with four strikeouts. Bailey Lange entered the game in the fifth inning and had her best performance of the tournament. She pitched two relief innings, giving up zero hits and striking out two.
 
The Shockers scored three more runs in the final two innings. Nickerson had an RBI single in the fifth inning and Urban had one in the sixth inning. Lange capped off her night with a single in the sixth inning that scored Perrigan.