ORLANDO – Wichita State evened the series with UCF on Saturday with a 6-0 shutout of the Knights at the UCF Softball Complex.

Wichita State (25-7, 1-1) bounced back from Friday night's series-opening loss to record its seventh shutout of the season. Wichita State had just five shutouts all of last season.

Zoe Jones was 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Her three hits tied a career high. Lauren Mills had two hits, including a two-run home run. Sydney McKinney, Sami Hood (RBI double), Bailey Urban (RBI) and Camryn Compton had a hit apiece.

Lauren Howell (12-2) threw her seventh complete game of the season. She held the Knights scoreless on seven hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

After three scoreless innings, Wichita State finally broke through on Jones' ninth home run of the season. Mills singled in the next at bat, which led to Hood's RBI double over the center fielder's head, putting the Shockers in front, 2-0.

Two more runs came across in the top of the fifth, putting the Shockers up 4-0. Jones added her second RBI on a single through the left side and then a bases loaded walk for Bailey Urban capped the inning.

UCF threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases but Howell induced a pop-up in the infield to strand the bags full of Knights.

Mills put the finishing touches on the shutout with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh.

Up Next
Wichita State and UCF wrap up the series Sunday morning at 10 a.m. CT on ESPN+.