WICHITA, Kan. – Addison Barnard and Lauren Lucas hit back-to-back home runs to secure a 5-1 win over East Carolina in the series opener Friday night at Wilkins Stadium.

In front of a sellout crowd, Wichita State improved to 38-8 overall and 11-2 in the American Athletic Conference to remain alone in first with five games to play.

Barnard led the offensive attack, going 2-for-3 with a triple, home run and two RBI. Lucas homered for the fourth time this season to go with a walk. Taylor Sedlacek singled and doubled, Lainee Brown doubled and Sydney McKinney singled to round out the hitters.

Lauren Howell (16-2) won her team-leading 16th game, allowing just one run on four hits and striking out four in 6.0 innings. Alison Cooper stuck out two in a perfect inning of relief.

After a 1-2-3 top of the first inning from Howell in the circle, her offense immediately produced some run support. A leadoff double from McKinney led to a Barnard RBI triple off the very top of the wall. Lucas drew a walk in the next at bat, which led to a double steal with Lucas swiping second and Barnard stealing home uncontested.

It wasn't until the fifth inning before another run crossed the plate. An RBI single in the top of the fifth cut Wichita State's lead in half, 2-1. The Shockers would have a response. Back-to-back solo homers from Barnard and Lucas upped the margin to 4-1.

Wichita State scratched across its final run in the bottom of the sixth on an ECU error, allowing Sedlacek to score from second after a double.

Up Next
No. 23 Wichita State and East Carolina continue the series Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN+.