CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Wichita State pounded out 25 hits in two games Saturday to pick up wins over Minnesota (4-0) and Charlotte (10-2) on the second day of the Niner Invitational.

Game 1 vs. Minnesota

Neleigh Herring broke out of a 2-for-19 slump with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Lainee Brown had a career day, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Bailey Urban was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Sydney McKinney added a double and Addison Barnard belted her seventh home run in 12 games.

Alison Cooper (2-0) was lights out in the circle. The freshman threw a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits. She struck out four and walked only two.

Two batters into the game Wichita State grabbed an early 1-0 lead on Barnard's seventh home run of the season.

Wichita State threatened to blow the game wide open in the top of the fifth. The Shockers loaded the bases with no outs, but failed to score a single run. Zoe Jones grounded into a fielder's choice, resulting in an out at the plate and then Lauren Mills grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

In the top of the sixth Urban led off with a double down the right field line. Following a Camryn Compton sac bunt, Brown added her third hit of the day, this one driving in a run to make it 2-0.

A leadoff single from Herring and a double from Jones had Wichita State looking for more in the top of the seventh. After Mills popped up, Urban hit a sharp grounder to short, who fired home to try and get Herring, but the throw was off target and got away from the catcher. Both Herring and Jones came home on the play to make it 4-0.

Game 2 vs. Charlotte

Five Shockers recorded multi-hit games in the nightcap, led by Sydney McKinney with three. Addison Barnard went 2-for-4 with another home run, two runs and four RBI. Lauren Mills drove in four runs behind a home run and a single. Krystin Nelson belted a homer as part of her two-hit night. Zoe Jones doubled twice to go with a pair of runs and an RBI.

Caitlin Bingham had her best outing of the season, throwing a complete game to move to 2-1. She allowed just two runs on five hits and struck out three. At one point she retired 12 straight 49ers.

Wichita State didn't waste any time putting a crooked number on the board in the rematch with Charlotte. The Shockers scored three in the top of the first on an RBI double down the line from Zoe Jones and a two-out, two-run home run from Lauren Mills.

Charlotte's Bailey Vannoy hit her third home run in two games vs. the Shockers on a leadoff solo shot in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 3-1.

Nelson would immediately get that run back in the top of the second on her first career home run, a solo shot to center.

In the top of the fourth, Barnard would blow the game wide open on her second grand slam in as many days, upping the lead to 8-1.

After Charlotte cut into the lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, Wichita State responded with a two-run top of the seventh to make it 10-2. Mills added her third and fourth RBI of the game on a single through the right side.

Up Next
Wichita State finishes the Niner Invitational Sunday morning vs. Minnesota at 9 a.m. CT.