LINCOLN, Neb. – Wichita State held on for an 8-7 win in the opener vs. South Dakota State, but was run-ruled in game two vs. Nebraska, 12-4.

Game 1 vs. South Dakota State

Lauren Lucas had a career-high three hits, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Sydney McKinney was 2-for-4 with two runs and Zoe Jones added a pair of hits, including a home run and two RBI.

Jordyn Pipkin received a no decision in the start. She went 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks. Kenzie Schopfer gave up five runs on five hits, while striking out three. Caitlin Bingham (4-1) recorded the win in 2.0 innings of relief.

South Dakota State used a first inning solo home run to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. Wichita State would even the score at 1-1 in the third on an RBI infield single from Jones. The Shockers were set up for a huge inning with the bases loaded, but were unable to add anything else.

For the second straight game, Lucas left the yard. Her fourth inning, two-run shot to center gave the Shockers a 3-1 advantage.

Pipkin had settled in after allowing the first inning home run but three straight walks to load the bases in the bottom of the fourth sent head coach Kristi Bredbenner to the bullpen. She turned to the freshman Schopfer who escaped the bases loaded, no outs jam, allowing only one run on a wild pitch.

Wichita State extended its lead to three in the fifth inning on a Wylie Glover pinch-hit sacrifice fly and Lucas RBI single through the right side.

After South Dakota State got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, Wichita State got it right back on a leadoff solo homer off the bat of Jones.

The bottom of the sixth was a nightmare from the opening batter. South Dakota State scored four runs in the inning behind three singles, two errors and a walk to take a 7-6 lead into the final inning.

Wichita State wouldn't go down without a fight, however. A Lucas walk, followed by McKinney reaching on an error brought Addison Barnard to the plate. Barnard would just miss a three-run home run, flying out at the warning track in center. Down to its final out, Wichita State got a big break off the bat of Jones. She would hit a routine grounder to short, which would have been the final out, but the shortstop booted it into the outfield, allowing two runs to score, pushing the Shockers back in front, 8-7.

Game 2 vs. Nebraska

Wichita State scored only four runs on just six hits. Sydney McKinney had an RBI triple, Zoe Jones added an RBI double and Wylie Glover and Lainee Brown both added doubles.

Alison Cooper made it only 1.2 innings in the start and never really looked comfortable. She allowed seven runs, although only two were earned, on six hits and four walks. Erin McDonald finished the final 4.0 innings, allowing five runs on four hits and five walks.

The two pitchers walked nine Huskers and recorded zero strikeouts.

Brown put the Shockers on the board first with an RBI double to the left-center gap in the second inning, but it didn't last long. A seven-run bottom of the second put the Huskers in front 7-1. Nebraska got all seven runs courtesy of the long ball. They hit a three-run home run and a grand slam in the frame.

Jones cut it to 7-2 in the third on an RBI double, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.

A two-out, two-run home run pushed the Huskers' lead to 9-2 in the bottom of the fourth.

Wichita State scored two in the fifth, but there would be no rally, as Nebraska tacked on three more in the sixth to make it 12-4.

Up Next
Wichita State wraps up play in Lincoln on Saturday vs. South Dakota State at Noon.