FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Chloe Barber had an all-time performance in the circle, leading Wichita State to a 3-1 win over No. 15 Arkansas Friday night, concluding a 2-0 day at the Razorback Invitational. The Shockers downed Illinois State, 7-5, earlier in the day behind a seven-run first inning.
Wichita State (5-2) now owns two wins over ranked foes to start the season, both SEC teams (South Carolina and Arkansas). The Shockers have five ranked wins dating back to last season.
It was the freshman Barber who stole the show in Fayetteville, tying the school record with 15 strikeouts. In 16.0 innings this season, Barber has 31 strikeouts.
Game 1 | Wichita State 7, Illinois State 5
Wichita State scored all seven of its runs in the top of the first inning and held on from there. The Shockers recorded just five hits in the game, but drew six walks – all in the first inning.
CC Wong singled, walked and drove in two and
Bailey Urban had a two-run double.
The performance of the game came from
Alison Cooper (1-1) out of the bullpen. Cooper tossed 5.1 innings of shutout relief, allowing three hits and striking out five. After
Lauren Howell got touched up in the second inning, Cooper came in and shut down the Redbirds.
The first three batters of the game for Wichita State all reached base via a Wong walk, Barnard single and
Sami Hood hit by pitch. Urban promptly delivered a double to right, scoring two. After another walk, Illinois State went to the bullpen just five batters in. Three straight walks with the bases loaded made it 5-0, signaling another Redbird pitching change.
After a strikeout, Wong drove in the final two Shockers on a single to left-center.
Howell would retire the first Redbird to start the bottom of the second, but then gave up a double, three straight singles and a walk, cutting the lead to 7-2. She would pick up a second out only to see Illinois State unload the bases on a single to make it a 7-5 game.
Wichita State would put just two baserunners on over the final six innings.
Game 2 | Wichita State 3, #15 Arkansas 1
Bailey Urban and
Lainee Brown both had a pair of hits, while
CC Wong drove in two.
Barber recorded her first career complete game, allowing just one run on five hits. She walked four to go with her 15 strikeouts.
Wichita State opened the scoring in the top of the second behind back-to-back singles from
Lainee Brown and
Sydney Zenon and a
Taylor Sedlacek walk to load the bases. With two outs, Wong delivered a two-run single to the left-center gap.
The first six outs in the circle for Barber were all via strikeout.
In the third, she ran into a little trouble loading the bases, but escaped with the lead still intact, allowing just one run.
She would escape another bases loaded jam in the fourth, ending the inning with a strikeout of Bri Ellis, the 3-hole hitter for the Razorbacks.
Looking for an insurance run in the top of the seventh, the Shockers would get one off the bat of Brown.
Sami Hood reached on a strikeout, wild pitch and then Urban singled. With runners on first and second, Brown stepped in and delivered a single back up the middle to score Hood from second.
Turns out that insurance run wouldn't even matter, as Barber sat the Razorbacks down in order in the bottom of the seventh on a fly out and two strikeouts looking to seal the victory.
Up Next
Wichita State continues play at the Razorback Invitational Saturday against UT Arlington at 12:30 p.m. and a rematch with No. 15/14 Arkansas at 5:30 p.m.
