The RoundHouse | 5/21/2021 9:11:00 PM
The Shockers had Ted Lasso in the dugout and the TV character's message of "Believe" on their T-shirts. The Hi-Chew candy flew after home runs.
The fans wore shirts proclaiming their readiness to "Wreak Havoc," the goal set by coach
Kristi Bredbenner earlier this week.
NCAA play is off to a good start for Wichita State softball, which put on a show on ESPN2, at least until the Shockers almost made their coach sick. Despite tense moments, the Shockers handled Texas A&M 9-7 to win their opener in the Norman Regional at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla. On Friday.
"The first one is a big one," Bredbenner said. "The second one is the biggest one. To get the first one, and the jitters, and things like that, under our belt today, that's a big part of that first game win."
Catcher
Madison Perrigan does not suffer from NCAA jitters. She homered twice, both times driving in two runs. She gave the Shockers a 2-0 lead in the first inning. In the fifth, she put the Shockers up 9-3.
In 2018, she homered twice in a 5-4 NCAA win over Oklahoma State.
In between the home runs, Perrigan struck out looking with the bases loaded. Bredbenner said the Aggies (31-220 fed her better pitches than she expected. Next time, she went to the plate expecting to swing.
"The first one I was really excited to put runs on the board first inning for the team and get us going," Perrigan said. "I knew I had to be aggressive every pitch and was able to stick to that plan and come through and it was the best feeling ever."
In 2016, the Shockers lost their regional opener and won the program's first NCAA game the next day. In 2018, they won their regional opener and advanced to the championship round. This season, they feel ready to take the next step and advance to a super-regional.
To do so, they likely need to get the past the Sooners, the tournament's top seed and winners of 10 straight regionals, nine at home.
On Saturday, Wichita State (40-11-1) will, everyone presumes, play Oklahoma at 3 p.m. The Sooners play Morgan State later on Friday. Oklahoma defeated the Shockers 14-3 in five innings on May 4 at Wilkins Stadium.
"We go in it fearless," Perrigan said. "We've just got to believe every pitch. Anything can happen when you believe."
Texas A&M is thinking the same thing. They must win twice on Saturday to advance.
"I know we can pitch better," Aggies coach Jo Evans said. "It's doable. I like our chances."
Wichita State's pitching faltered late and Bredbenner knows that must be cleaned up on Saturday if the Shockers want to advance. Starter
Bailey Lange hit a batter and walked two in the sixth inning to load the bases. Reliever
Caitlin Bingham kept the damage to one run by inducing two groundballs.
In the seventh, Bingham hit a batter to start the inning. The Aggies, taking advantage of a missed call at first, added in two hits and a walk to cut the deficit to two runs. Bingham ended the threat, stranding two runners, by snagging a line drive and forcing another groundball.
"I wanted to vomit," Bredbenner said. "A few too many freebies today for the pitchers. Against good teams, that's going to haunt you.That's something we're going to have to manage tomorrow."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
