WICHITA, Kan. – No. 23 Wichita State scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth to blow by South Florida in five innings, 14-0, Saturday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium.

Wichita State (29-7, 4-1) secured its second straight conference series win to open conference play. The Shockers will also claim a regular season series over the Bulls for the first time since 2019.

Sydney McKinney recorded her second straight three-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. McKinney is 6-for-8 in the two games vs. South Florida. Lauren Lucas upped her RBI total to nine in the series. She was 2-for-4 with a triple and five RBI.

McKinney's career hit total now stands at 345, tied for the 18th most in NCAA history. With her three hits on Saturday she passed Oklahoma's Jocelyn Alo.

Addison Barnard homered for the second straight game in a 2-for-2 day with four runs scored and two stolen bases. Lainee Brown doubled and drove in two, Sami Hood singled twice, and Krystin Nelson scored twice to go with a single.

Freshman Alex Aguilar was lights out in the circle. She registered her fourth complete game shutout, allowing only four hits in 5.0 innings. Aguilar struck out two and walked none.

Wichita State scratched out an early run in the bottom of the first on a Zoe Jones' RBI fielder's choice.

The Shockers made it 4-0 in the bottom of the second behind a Brown RBI double and Lucas two-run single up the middle.

After a scoreless third, the floodgates opened in the fourth. The first three Shockers reached on a Nelson single, McKinney fielder's choice and Barnard walk to load the bases for the second straight night with Lucas stepping into the box. For the second straight game, Lucas promptly unloaded the bases. This time the Texas native cleared the bags with her fifth triple of the season. She would be tagged out trying to score on a wild pitch in the next at bat.

Jones walked, Mills was hit by a pitch and Hood singled to load the bases once again. Sedlacek worked a bases loaded walk and Brown grounded into an RBI ground-out to make it 9-0.

Bailey Urban drew a pinch hit walk to again put a Shocker on every bag, setting the stage for McKinney. The senior unloaded a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right-center for her first career grand slam and fourth homer of the season.

In the very next at bat, Barnard belted a solo shot over the wall in left, nearly making it into the street. Barnard made it two straight games that she was involved in back-to-back home runs, Friday night with Lucas.

Up Next
Wichita State and South Florida wrap up the series Sunday at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.