SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Wichita State scored eight runs on 11 hits, but it wasn't enough as Missouri State used a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth to complete the comeback, defeating the Shockers, 9-8.

The Wichita State (11-7) pitchers surrendered four home runs, three to Alex Boze, to a Missouri State team that had hit just seven all season entering the matchup.

Alison Cooper started the game in the circle and went 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks. Caitlin Bingham gave up four runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of relief, while Erin McDonald recorded the loss in 1.2 innings. McDonald gave up the game-winning home run in the bottom of the sixth with two outs on a 3-2 pitch.

The loss spoiled another great night at the plate for Sydney McKinney, who tied a career high with four hits, including a home run, two runs scored and three RBI. Lauren Mills provided a spark off the bench with a pair of hits, one of them being a solo home run. Wylie Glover went 2-for-4 with a double and Zoe Jones also went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Lauren Lucas doubled and drove in a season-high tying three runs.

A bases clearing double to left-center off the bat of Lucas gave Wichita State an early 3-0 lead after the top of the first. Missouri State looked like it would respond with a big first inning of its own, as the Bears loaded the bases with just one out. But Cooper would escape the inning, allowing just one run on an RBI groundout.  

Wichita State added to its lead in the second inning on McKinney's two-run home run to dead center, pushing the margin to 5-1.

After the Bears cut it to 5-2 in the bottom of the second, Missouri State made it just a one-run game following a two-run home run in the third.

McKinney added her third RBI in the top of the fourth on an RBI infield single, pushing the lead to 6-4.

Wichita State briefly extended the lead to 7-4 on Mills' pinch-hit solo home run in the top of the fifth, but Missouri State answered with back-to-back home runs in the home half, cutting it to 7-6.

Jones again pushed the lead to two in the top of the sixth on an RBI single, but Missouri State came right back with three runs in the bottom half, including the go-ahead two-out home run. It was the third home run of the night for Boze who tied an MVC record with three homers.

Up Next
Wichita State travels up the turnpike for the Jayhawk Invitational, March 13-14 in Lawrence vs. Southeast Missouri, Iowa and Kansas.