The RoundHouse | 2/27/2021 6:36:00 PM

 
The home run chase is the big one, of course. Ignoring it is basically impossible, hard as Madison Perrigan tries and as routine as it's become around Wilkins Stadium.
 
Perrigan, a senior catcher, tied Wichita State's career record with two home runs during Saturday's doubleheader sweep of Creighton at Wilkins Stadium. The Shockers routed the Bluejays 14-2 and 13-3 in run-rule victories on a windy day. 
 
Wichita State (4-2) hit five home runs in the first game and six in the second. Creighton (0-2) used four pitchers in the doubleheader and surrendered 23 hits, 14 for extra bases in eight innings.
 
Perrigan homered in the second game to reach 39, joining former teammate Laurie Derrico and Cacy Williams atop the list. She also extended her mark as the American Athletic Conference's home run leader.

Perrigan will smile and answer politely when asked. She would rather talk about other topics.
 
"I try to stay away from stats," she said. "I don't like looking at them. You look at them too much and it gets in your head."
 
She leaned on Derrico's experience with the record. Derrico played shortstop for the Shockers from 2016-19 and tied Williams, who played from 2014-16. 
 
"Every day you heard about it, that she was one home run closer, one hit closer to this record," Perrigan said. "Seeing that early on helped me  see 'Hey, don't worry about that stuff.' I'm really thankful (Derrico) has passed down that knowledge of 'Hey, leave that aside and focus what's in front of you right now to help your team win.'"
 
Wichita State coach Kristi Bredbenner coached all three of the Shockers at No. 1. She has lots of experience ignoring the record everybody wants to talk about.
 
"We don't talk about it," she said. "She needs to not worry about those things, because when she starts focusing on big outcomes like that, she's going to get anxious and struggle a little bit. Focus on contact and the big hits are going to happen when you keep it simple like that."
 
Perrigan went 0 for 3 in the first game and admitted the circumstances – first home game since 2019 and another shot at her senior season – produced too much hype. In the nightcap, she went 2 for 4.
 
"I'm a little anxious, a little too excited to get up to bat," she said. "I have to remind myself to stay calm and see that ball in, let the ball get deep and trust myself to know I can do it."
 
Freshman second baseman Addison Barnard homered three times during the doubleheader to drive in eight runs. Designated player Lauren Mills homered twice.
 
In the first game, pitcher Erin McDonald held the Bluejays to seven hits and struck out six without walking a batter over five innings. Bailey Lange threw a five-inning one-hitter in the second game. She walked three and struck out five. 
 
"I like the fact we're keeping the ball down and minimizing our walks," Bredbenner said. "(Lange) spotted her fastball really well and her changeup was working to keep them off-balance."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.