FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Wichita State run-ruled Western Illinois, 11-0, to begin the final day of the Razorback Invitational, but fell in the finale to No. 10 Arkansas, 7-4.

Game 1 vs. Western Illinois

Sydney McKinney added another multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a triple, home run and two runs. Addison Barnard drove in two runs on a home run and single. Lauren Mills added a pair of singles. Krystin Nelson recorded her first career RBI behind a 2-for-3 outing at the plate.

Kenzie Schopfer (1-0) threw 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out eight.

McKinney smoked the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the first off the left field wall for a leadoff triple. The very next batter, Barnard, promptly drove her in on an RBI single up the middle. Barnard proceeded to steal second and third leading to an RBI groundout for Zoe Jones to put Wichita State up 2-0 after an inning.

Wichita State made it 3-0 in the bottom of the third on a Krystin Nelson RBI single up the middle.

The floodgates opened in the bottom of the fourth behind an 8-run inning. It all started with back-to-back-to-back home runs from Lauren Lucas, McKinney and Barnard. Two more came across on a Bailey Urban RBI single and fielding error. The final three runs came in on fielding errors in the outfield.

Game 2 vs. Arkansas

McKinney had two more hits in the finale with a double, triple and two RBI. Barnard also went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Caitlin Bingham went only 2.1 innings in the start. She allowed five runs on five hits. Schopfer threw 1.1 innings of relief, allowing two runs on a pair of hits. Alison Cooper was locked in, in her 2.1 innings out of the bullpen. She allowed only two baserunners – both on walks – but didn't surrender any hits or runs.

Arkansas put a run on the board in the first on a sac fly and then used a third inning grand slam to make it 5-0.

A two-run homer in the fourth extended the Razorbacks' lead to 7-0.

Wichita State woke up the bats in the top of the fourth with a four-run inning. Lauren Lucas drove in the first run on a single down the third base line. With two runners on, McKinney brought them both in on her second triple of the day. Barnard added the final run in the next at-bat on a single right back up the middle to score McKinney.

Arkansas would turn to its ace, Mary Haff, to silence any further threat of a Wichita State comeback.

Up Next
Wichita State travels to Charlotte, N.C., for the Niner Invitational next weekend. The Shockers will face Northern Iowa, Charlotte and Minnesota over three days.