TAMPA, Fla. – Freshman Alison Cooper threw a complete game gem in the circle and the defense shined behind her in a crucial 2-1 win vs. South Florida Sunday afternoon.

Facing a conference series sweep, Wichita State (21-13, 4-2) hit two timely home runs, the only runs of the day, and made several key defensive plays to avoid the sweep.

Cooper hadn't thrown more than 2.0 innings in five of her last six appearances, but she was dynamite Sunday. She recorded her third complete game and improved to 5-2 on the season, allowing just one run on four hits and one walk.

The Shockers recorded just five hits on the afternoon, but two of them resulted in home runs – both solo homers. Jessica Garcia hit her second home run of the season and Zoe Jones crushed her ninth of the season.

Addison Barnard, Neleigh Herring and Krystin Nelson were the only other Shockers to record a hit on the day, all singles.

A missed call on a stolen base attempt turned into a run for USF in the bottom of the first following a one-out RBI double.

Wichita State evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on Garcia's solo home run to left.

Looking for an offensive spark, Wichita State got it on the first pitch of the at bat in the top of the sixth. Jones crushed the first pitch she saw over the wall in right, proving to be the game-winner.

USF put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth following a one-out double, but Cooper retired the next two Bulls on a fly out and ground out.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cooper retired the only three batters to see the plate, ending a three-game losing streak.

Up Next
Wichita State heads right back out on the road with a trip to Houston for a conference series April 14-16.