The RoundHouse | 3/26/2021 8:32:00 PM
Wichita State is 18-4, moving toward the national softball rankings and starting conference play with designs on winning the title.
That type of team doesn't mess around on Friday nights. The Shockers checked that box with a 16-1 run-rule win over ECU at Wilkins Stadium.
"We like to go after people and score runs first," Wichita State junior
Neleigh Herring said. "That's definitely something we're trying to do every game. Show them we're here to play and they're going to have to get after it."
The Shockers (1-0 American Athletic Conference) set course for the run-rule with a four-run first inning and added two more in the second. A sixth-run fourth inning gave coach
Kristi Bredbenner cushion to remove starting pitcher
Bailey Lange after facing 17 hitters and allowing one hit for the Pirates (9-14, 0-1).
With the American playing four-game series, pitching depth matters more than in previous seasons with a three-game series.
Hailey Martinez pitched the fifth and final inning.
"Any number of pitches we can take off of
Bailey Lange's arm, going into every weekend, we're going to take our chances in that situation," Bredbenner said. "The more experience Hailey gets the better the situation is going to be for us."
Wichita State's offense figures to give its pitchers plenty of support. On Friday, the Shockers pounded out 12 hits, five for extra bases, and walked nine times. Herring hit her sixth home run of the season and went 2 for 3 to up her conference-leading batting average to .464. Shortstop
Sydney McKinney went 3 for 3 to score four runs and catcher
Madison Perrigan doubled and drove in four runs.
Center fielder
Bailee Nickerson, who doubled and drove in three runs, said the unsatisfactory finish of the past two seasons sticks with the Shockers. In 2019, the conference tournament ended during the first day of play due to rain in Houston. Last season, COViD-19 ended the season after 27 games.
"Our mind-sets are a little different – we're more aggressive on the pitches that are ours and we're not taking as much," she said. "We're making contact and it is good contact."
Bredbenner looked at Wichita State's five strikeouts and asked for even more aggressive swings when she talked with the team after the game.
"We had some really good at-bats," Bredbenner said. "But I think we need to be a little more aggressive on that early strike that's a little bit better pitch to hit. Not much to complain about, but at the same time, they're going to make an adjustment tomorrow and we've got to be ready for that first good pitch we see."
The first inning provided a script on how the Shockers are winning this season. Leadoff hitter
Sydney McKinney walked on four pitches and
Addison Barnard reached on a fielding error. A throwing error followed to allow McKinney to score and Barnard to reach third to put ECU pitcher Kama Woodall in immediate peril with the heart of the order coming up.
Perrigan walked on five pitches. Herring blasted a home run into a tree outside the left field fence for a 4-0 lead.
"I feel like Syd is always getting on base," Herring said. "Addie can go yard and she's a tough out, so she's going to be on. (Perrigan) can put the ball out of the yard, too. If that doesn't happen, I can jump out there and do what I can."
The Shockers play a doubleheader on Saturday (2 p.m.), which means Herring expects them to put that run-rule win behind them quickly. The series ends with a single game on Sunday.
"It's kind of an unwritten rule – we go have dinner, celebrate the win and then when we show up at the ballpark tomorrow morning, it's back to business," she said.
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
