HOUSTON – Sydney McKinney launched two home runs and had four hits to lead Wichita State in a 7-3 win at Houston Friday night.

Wichita State (23-13, 6-2) clinched the series with the victory and has now won six straight vs. the Cougars.

McKinney registered her sixth four-hit game of the night to go with her two home runs and three RBI. She now has 11 home runs on the season and 21 for her career.

Lauren Lucas tied a season high with three hits, including a double and an RBI. Addison Barnard and Jessica Garcia both finished with two hits.

Caitlin Bingham picked up her ninth win in 6.0 innings of work. She allowed three runs on seven hits, while striking out six. Erin McDonald registered her first save of the season in an inning of relief. She struck out a pair in the frame.

McKinney sent the very first pitch of the game over the wall in right to put the Shockers on top 1-0. Following a Barnard single and stolen base, Lucas dropped an RBI double into the gap in left-center to make it 2-0 after three batters.

Wichita State threatened a big inning in the top of the third, loading the bases with no outs, but was only able to get one run on a Neleigh Herring RBI groundout.

In the home half of the third, Houston put its first three batters on base and broke into the scoring column on an RBI single, but Bingham would limit the damage to just a single run. She left runners on the corners to keep a 3-1 lead intact.

Houston evened the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out, two-run home run.

After three scoreless frames at the plate, Wichita State finally got back in the scoring column with a four-run top of the seventh. Herring led off with a double and then proceeded to score on a Jessica Garcia RBI single. A pinch-hit sac fly from Cassie Passwaters made it 5-3 and then McKinney delivered the knockout blow with her second home run of the night, a two-run bomb to dead center.

Up Next
The weekend series between Wichita State and Houston concludes Saturday at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.