WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State hit four home runs and needed every one of them in a come-from-behind 10-8 win vs. Tulsa Friday night in the Shockers' home and conference opener.

Wichita State (18-10, 1-0) snapped a two-game slide and has now won its last three conference openers.

Lauren Mills was responsible for two of the team's four home runs, both two-run shots to finish the night with four RBI. Jessica Garcia drove in a career-high three runs behind a home run and a single. Addison Barnard delivered her team-leading 14th home run of the season to go with three RBI.

Alison Cooper's start would be short-lived as she couldn't make it out of the second inning. Tulsa scored three runs in the inning to take an early lead and end Cooper's night. Cooper allowed three runs on three hits and two walks in just 1.2 innings.

Caitlin Bingham finished the final 5.1 innings, allowing five runs - only one earned - on five hits and three walks. Bingham struck out a season-high four in the relief appearance, while earning her 8th win of the season.

The first of two, two-run home runs from Mills would bring the Shockers within a run in the bottom of the second after Tulsa's three-run top of the second. An inning later, Barnard would give Wichita State a 4-3 lead behind her two-run bomb to left.

Following a fielding error, Tulsa regained the lead in the top of the fourth. The Golden Hurricane scored four runs in the frame to take a 7-4 lead.

Barnard had a huge opportunity to do some major damage in the home half of the fourth when she stepped in the box with the bases loaded and only one out. She just missed a grand slam but would bring in a run on sac fly to cut the deficit to two.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mills and Garcia went back-to-back with home runs to put Wichita State back in front, 8-7.

Needing some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, Wichita State got it off the bat of Garcia who laced a two-run single back up the middle to make it 10-7. Tulsa threatened in the top of the seventh after the first two batters reached via walk and a double. Following a lineout, Tulsa cut it to 10-8 on a fielder's choice. That would be as close as they would get, as Bingham shut the door retiring the next two batters to secure the win.

Up Next
Wichita State and Tulsa meet for game two Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.