WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State belted six home runs and scored 31 runs in its Fall opener vs. Pittsburg State Sunday afternoon, defeating the Gorillas by a score of 31-3 at Wilkins Stadium.

From the opening pitch the Shocker bats were alive and well after setting numerous school records just a season ago. Wichita State hit four of its six home runs in the first inning, on the way to scoring 16 runs in the frame. Neleigh Herring started the scoring onslaught by crushing one of her three home runs on the day over the right field wall. Herring would add a solo home run and a two-run shot later in the game.

Jessica Garcia delivered a grand slam over the scoreboard in left field, and the inning was capped by home runs from Zoe Jones and Camryn Compton.

Wichita State made it 22-0 in the bottom of the third on Herring's second homer.

The Shockers would add three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and sixth, and a run apiece in the seventh and eighth.

Sydney McKinney and Bailey Urban joined Herring, Garcia, Jones and Compton with multiple hits in the exhibition.

Erin McDonald started the game in the circle and threw 3.0 innings, striking out five, while allowing no hits or runs. Kenzie Schopfer (1.0 IP, 1 K, 2 H), Jordyn Pipkin (1.0 IP, 1 K, 1 BB) and Alison Cooper (2.0 IP, 2 K, 1 H) all made their debuts in the circle. Caitlin Bingham rounded out the rotation, going 3.0 innings and allowing three runs on four hits.

Fall play continues next Friday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. when Wichita State hosts Southern Nazarene at Wilkins Stadium.