WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State and Florida Atlantic went toe-to-toe Saturday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader at Wilkins Stadium. The Owls won the opener, 8-7, but the Shockers bounced back to take nightcap, 6-4.
Head coach
Kristi Bredbenner recorded her 700th career win with the victory in game two.
Game 1 | Florida Atlantic 8, Wichita State 7
Wichita State homered four times and finished with 10 hits, but two errors proved costly. Five of Florida Atlantic's eight runs were unearned.
CC Wong had three hits and
Lainee Brown had a pair, including one of the team's four home runs.
Addison Barnard,
Taylor Sedlacek and
Caroline Tallent all homered in the game.
Alison Cooper threw the final 4.2 innings out of the bullpen after
Chloe Barber was pulled in the second with one out. Cooper (2-3) allowed six runs, only two earned, on five hits and five walks. Barber surrendered two runs on two hits and three walks, while striking out three.
Florida Atlantic scored an early run in the top of the first following a double and an RBI single. In the third they extended their lead to 5-0 behind a four-run inning. All four runs came with two outs after a Shocker throwing error kept the inning alive.
Needing a spark, Wichita State got one in the way of a six-run frame on three home runs. Barnard's two-run home run was the catalyst to get the Shockers on the board. The very next batter, Sedlacek, hit one over the wall in nearly the same spot as Barnard's. Wichita State then grabbed the lead on Tallent's first career home run in a full count.
In the very next half inning, the Owls retook the lead on a two-run opposite field home run to make it 7-6.
Wichita State tied it at 7-7 in the bottom of the fifth on Brown's solo home run.
Florida Atlantic manufactured the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh after a walk, stolen base and throwing error. With the go-ahead run on the third, the Owls laced an RBI single through the right side to make it 8-7.
Game 2 | Florida Atlantic 4, Wichita State 6
After hitting four long balls in Game 1, the Shockers added to their daily total with three more in the nightcap, including two in the bottom of the sixth to put Wichita State in front.
Krystin Nelson tied a career high with three hits. Her home run was the go-ahead round-tripper in the bottom of the sixth. She was a triple shy of the cycle.
Addison Barnard and
Mila Seaton hit the other home runs.
Alex Aguilar was solid in the start through the first 3.0 innings, but ran into trouble in the fourth and fifth. She was saddled with the no decision in 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks.
Lauren Howell picked up her first the win of the season in 2.1 innings of relief.
Nelson's RBI double down the left field line in the bottom of the second started the scoring. After a scoreless third, Florida Atlantic jumped in front, 2-1, on a monster, two-run home run.
It didn't take long for the home team to respond. The freshman Seaton hit a no-doubter, three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to catapult the Shockers back in front, 4-2. It was her first career homer.
A single run in the top of the fifth and top of the sixth tied the game at 4-4.
With the game tied at 4 in the bottom of the sixth, Wichita State needed one run. They got two. Solo home runs from Nelson and Barnard sent the Shocker faithful in attendance into a frenzy.
Aside from a two-out walk, Howell shut the Owls down in the top of the seventh for the win.
Up Next
Wichita State and Florida Atlantic conclude the weekend series Sunday at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.
