The RoundHouse | 5/9/2022 3:07:00 PM
No. 24 Wichita State won an important softball game on Friday, one which made the next two more important and enticing.
The Shockers lost both to No. 19 UCF on Saturday and Sunday and coach
Kristi Bredbenner wants that experience to help Wichita State in this week's American Athletic Conference Championship in Greenville, N.C. The second-seeded Shockers (32-15) open the tournament against No. 7 Memphis (16-37) at 1 p.m. Thursday.
Friday's 11-4 win over UCF lifted the Shockers into a first-place tie and provided an important addition to their NCAA at-large resume. UCF won 3-1 in eight innings on Saturday and 9-5 on Sunday to claim sole possession of the regular-season title.
The Shockers worked hard to get in that position and, perhaps, overreacted to the circumstances. Bredbenner saw that tension in the strikeouts, weak ground balls and walks that allowed UCF to take the final two games.
"We wanted to make it happen, instead of letting it happen," she said. "We were just anxious. When you started to see the potential to win the conference in sight, getting that first game and tying it up, we tried a little too hard."
On Saturday, the Shockers loaded the bases with one out in the third and scored one run. UCF pitching retired the next eight hitters and the Shockers managed one more hit the rest of the game. Pitcher
Caitlin Bingham held UCF to six hits and one earned run, and the defense produced several sparking plays to keep the game tied 1-all entering the eighth.
On Sunday, the Shockers got their leadoff hitter on base in each of the first three innings and managed only one run. They trailed 4-2 before UCF got to Bingham with four hits, two walks and an error that helped the Knights take a 9-5 lead.
"We knew coming in that they were a great team," Wichita State shortstop
Sydney McKinney said. "We just didn't capitalize on some of their mistakes, and they did. We know what we need to work on."
The Shockers see value in seeing high-level pitching heading into postseason play. Should they advance in the AAC tournament, they will likely face third-seeded USF (42-13) and senior pitcher Georgina Corrick in the semifinal. Another meeting with UCF looms as a possibility in Saturday's championship.
"We're a better hitting team than we showed this weekend," Bredbenner said. "Their pitchers pitched tremendously. We're going to take that experience – those are post-season-type games."
The weekend atmosphere with packed stands, enthusiastic crowds and a regional-quality opponent provided the Shockers, several of whom are new or played minimal roles last season, a taste of that intensity.
"We're going to move on toward next weekend and fight every game," first baseman
Neleigh Herring said. "This weekend prepped us well. We've got some stuff to work on. I think we'll go into next weekend feeling hot and ready."
Bredbenner said she believes the weekend series vs. UCF boosted Wichita State's NCAA at-large resume.
The Shockers moved up three spots to No. 37 in the NCAA power rankings, helped by the games against No. 16 UCF. Wichita State also owns a split with No. 32 Charlotte and wins over No. 34 Illinois and No. 35 Minnesota. Five of its losses are to top 10 RPI teams Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Arkansas with four more to top-30 UCF and Nebraska.
"The win Friday really helps us," Bredbenner said. "That one win, to me, should solidify us. I think we look pretty good right now."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
