WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 16-1 rout of ECU in the American Athletic Conference opener Friday night at Wilkins Stadium.

Wichita State (18-4, 1-0) pounded out 12 hits on the night, while holding the Pirates to a single hit.

Bailey Lange (9-1) gave up just the one hit and run in the top of the fourth to collect another win. Hailey Martinez pitched an inning of relief, allowing just one walk and striking out one.

Neleigh Herring led the offensive attack, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI, while Madison Perrigan also drove in four runs on a double and two walks. Bailee Nickerson doubled in three plate appearances and tallied three RBI. Ryleigh Buck went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

Wichita State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. The Shockers scored in all four innings, beginning with a four-run first. Three of those runs came on Herring's sixth home run of the season, a bomb to straightaway center field.

A pair of sacrifice flies from Perrigan and Nickerson capped a two-run second. Four more runs came across in the third behind a bases loaded walk from Perrigan, a wild pitch and a two-run double from Buck.

ECU scored its lone run in the top of the fourth after a double and an error. The Shockers came right back in the home half of the fourth with six of their own. One of Sydney McKinney's three hits came in the fourth to score a run. A two-run double from Perrigan, an RBI single from Herring and another two-run double from Nickerson finished the scoring onslaught.

Martinez came in to pitch the final inning to seal the victory in only five innings.

Up Next
Wichita State continues the weekend series vs. ECU tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.