ORLANDO – Redshirt senior
Bailey Lange tossed a one-hit complete game shutout in the series opener at No. 23 UCF Friday night, as the 25th-ranked Shockers cruised to a 7-0 win.
Wichita State (30-5, 12-1) held the Knights to a season-low one hit and held them scoreless for the first time since 2019. The win also extended Wichita State's season-long win streak to 11 in a row, which is tied for the second longest in school history.
The Shockers' 12 conference wins equals the most they've recorded since joining the American Athletic Conference. They finished 12-9 in both 2018 and 2019.
Wichita State pounded out nine hits on the night to go along with six walks issued by UCF.
Lange (15-2) was dominant from the first batter, finishing with five strikeouts and one walk. The lone hit allowed was an infield single that grazed off Lange's glove into the hole between short and third base.
Lauren Mills hit the team's 72nd home run of the season, a towering two-run shot for her ninth of the season. Mills was 2-for-3 on the night with the two RBI.
Ryleigh Buck was 2-for-3 with a double.
Kaylee Huecker drove in a pair of runs on a double and
Addison Barnard did the same.
Wichita State threatened in each of the first two innings, but stranded five runners on base with nothing to show for it. In the top of the third the Shockers finally broke through. Huecker delivered a two-out, two-run double to put Wichita State in front 2-0.
A three-run top of the sixth increased the advantage to five. Barnard's two-run double was the big one in the frame and then Perrigan added the final run on a sacrifice fly.
Mills provided the cherry on top with her two-run homer to give the Shockers a comfortable 7-0 lead.
Up Next
No. 25 Wichita State and No. 23 UCF continue play tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+.