The RoundHouse | 4/7/2021 7:04:00 AM

 
Wednesday is a day to showcase softball in a way it isn't often at Wichita State.
 
No. 1 Oklahoma, 28-0 and owners of a 35-game win streak, visits Wilkins Stadium for a sold-out game at 6 p.m. (ESPN+). Wichita State is No. 24 in the D1Softball rankings and one spot outside the NFCA top 25. It is No. 30 in the NCAA's power rankings with a 24-5 record that represents the program's best start.
 
Consider it softball's biggest brand vs. one that is fighting for more attention. The game shares the spotlight with USF at No. 5 Florida as the night's top matchups.
 
"It's a great opportunity for our kids to go out there and give them a little bit of trouble and see what we can come up with," Wichita State coach Kristi Bredbenner said. "We have an opportunity to do something that nobody's done in 28 straight games."
 
While Oklahoma's 28-game resume is the big story, Wichita State's work over its 29 games makes this opportunity a no-pressure outing for the Shockers. They own wins over top-50 RPI teams Oklahoma State (No. 14), South Dakota State (No. 31) and Iowa State (No. 41). Quality opponents such as UCF (No. 24 in the NFCA poll), Kansas, Oklahoma State and a regular-season ending doubleheader with Arkansas (No. 10 in the NFCA poll) await.
Wichita State's NCAA at-large resume is in good shape and gets better by playing the Sooners (No. 15).
 
"We give them a fight every year," Shocker shortstop Sydney McKinney said. "It's kind of a 'Why not us?' thing. We have nothing to lose." 
 
The Sooners, who won the NCAA title in 2016 and 2017 and finished second in 2019, are the team many Shockers grew up watching in the Women's College World Series. They are another measuring stick to give the Shockers a look at the type of competition they will face in NCAA regional play.
 
"Playing the No. 1 team in the country is always a good test to see where you're at mentally and physically," pitcher Bailey Lange said. 
 
While the Sooners dominate the series (48-5), there is precedent for the Shockers believing they can compete. 
 
They led sixth-ranked OU 4-0 in 2020 before losing 8-5 in Norman. In 2019, No. 1 Oklahoma came to Wichita and won 8-0 in five innings. In 2018, the Shockers led the second-ranked Sooners 6-0 entering the sixth inning and lost 7-6 at Norman. The 2017 Shockers led ninth-ranked OU 3-2 after four innings before losing 7-3 at Wilkins Stadium.
 
The 2021 Shockers are equipped to battle in a similar manner. The issue in past seasons has been finishing the job. Regardless of the outcome, the game offers the Shockers a chance to grab the attention of fans. 
 
"This team is probably the most talented team that we've had in the time I've been here," Bredbenner said. "One of the things that makes them talented is their ability to play well with each other. The friendships, the team chemistry this year has been the best we've had in a long, long time. That goes a long way."
 
Wichita State's potential to push an elite team such as Oklahoma probably starts with its power. The Shockers have 56 home runs this season, fourth nationally, and three behind the school record set in 2018. Freshman right fielder Addison Barnard leads the Shockers with 14 home runs, two behind the season record. Catcher Madison Perrigan has 10 and holds the career record with 40.
 
Wichita State's improvement from last season's 11-16 record comes largely from the pitching staff. It leads the American Athletic Conference with an ERA of 2.17, down from last season's 5.60. In 27 games last season, the Shockers walked 93 hitters. This season, in 29 games, they've issued 63 for a mark of 2.40 per seven innings, third in the American.
 
"The vibe on this team is just amazing," Perrigan said. "Everybody is enjoying themselves and having fun. It's just awesome to have 25 of your best friends with your all the time."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.