#6/6 OKLAHOMA STATE (35-8, 13-5 Big 12) at WICHITA STATE (19-17, 10-8)
Wednesday, April 17 | 6:00 PM CT
Wichita, Kan. | Wilkins Stadium
Video: ESPN+ 
Stats: Statbroadcast.com
 

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WED. APR. 17 6:00 PM

Yellow Storm Night - Wear YELLOW as the Shockers look to strike down the Cowgirls Giveaway – Yellow Rally Towel (First 250 Fans)

 

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QUICK HITS
• Wichita State and Oklahoma State square off for Round II on Wednesday at Wilkins Stadium.
• Oklahoma State leads the all-time series vs. Wichita State, 88-16. Nine of those 16 wins have come since Kristi Bredbenner became head coach.
• Wichita State has dropped three straight conference series' for the first time since 2015. Wichita State has never been swept in an American Conference series. The last time they were swept by a conference opponent was in 2015 vs. Southern Illinois.
• CC Wong ranks 3rd nationally in batting average (.482), 4th in on base percentage (.572), 10th in slugging percentage (.895) and 20th in total bases (95).
• Softball America named Wong the No. 1 2nd baseman in its position rankings this week.
• Wichita State is 4-6 in its last 10 games.
• The Shockers are currently 6th in the AAC standings at 10-8, two games back of 2nd and three games back of No. 1 Florida Atlantic.
• Wichita State's RPI is 44 as of April 16 and the Shockers have played the nation's 22nd toughest schedule.
• Of Wichita State's 36 games this season, nine have come against ranked opponents. They are 2-7 in those games.
• Wichita State has five wins against ranked opponents dating back to last season.
• The American Athletic Conference is rated the 6th best conference according to RPI behind only the SEC, Big 12, Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten.
• Wichita State ranks 6th nationally in home runs per game and 19th in slugging percentage.
• Chloe Barber ranks 4th nationally in strikeouts per 7.0 innings and 53rd in saves.
• Softball America named Addison Barnard a Preseason First Team All-American.
• Barnard is one of 50 on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List.
• Barnard has 84 career home runs, the most all time at Wichita State and in American Athletic Conference history.
• Barnard became the 6th player in NCAA history with 70 career home runs and 50 career stolen bases, and is the only active DI player with 80+ HR and 60+ SB.
• Barnard ranks 3rd among NCAA DI active players in career home runs with 84, eight behind Miami's Karli Spaid and five behind Oklahoma's Tiare Jennings.
• Her 84 home runs are currently 12th most in NCAA history.
• Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner won her 700th career game on March 9 vs. Florida Atlantic.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State is ranked in the Top 10 in all four of the major polls, and as high as No. 4 in the NFCA Top 25. The Cowgirls rank in the Top 20 nationally in several categories, including: fielding percentage (4th), home runs per game (7th), earned run average (1.82), slugging percentage (10th) and shutouts (10th). Caroline Wang leads the Cowgirls in batting average (.379), doubles (10), home runs (16) and RBI (42). Oklahoma State has three different pitchers that have logged 60.0 or more innings. Lexi Kilfoyl is the ace of the staff at 16-3 with a 1.00 ERA in 112.1 innings, 97 strikeouts and just 23 walks. Her ERA ranks 4th nationally and 5th in hits allowed per 7 innings. Ivy Rosenberry is 10-3 in 76.0 innings with a 1.47 ERA. As a staff the Cowgirls have a team ERA of 1.82.

SERIES HISTORY
The series between Wichita State and Oklahoma State dates all the way back to the first meeting on March 25, 1978. Wichita State won that first-ever matchup, only to see Oklahoma State win the next 56 in a row. The Cowgirls lead the all-time series, 88-16. Nine of those 16 wins have come under Kristi Bredbenner. Wichita State took two of three from the Cowgirls in 2023, including both regular season matchups. Oklahoma State got its revenge in the NCAA Stillwater Regional. The Shockers and Cowgirls have played each other every year since 1984.

LAST MEETING VS. THE COWGIRLS
Oklahoma State rallied for an extra inning walk-off win in the first meeting this season on March 6 in Stillwater. Wichita State grabbed a 3-1 lead in the Top of the 6th only to see the Cowgirls tie it at 3-3 in the home half of the 6th. Oklahoma State would end it in the bottom of the 8th on a Rosie Davis RBI single through the right side. Alex Aguilar was superb in the circle for the Shockers, but recorded a no decision. She allowed just one run on three hits in 5.1 innings.

LAST TIME OUT
Wichita State dropped its third straight American Athletic Conference series, dropping a pair of games at South Florida over the weekend. It's the first time since 2015 the Shockers have lost three straight conference series. The Shockers remain just three games back of first place in the conference standings. A CC Wong grand slam lifted the Shockers to a 5-3 win in the series opener, but the Shocker offense would be silenced in the final two games. Wichita State was held to just two runs on seven hits in games 2 and 3. Wong was the only Shocker to reach base on Saturday when the Bulls shut out the Shockers, 5-0. In the finale, Wichita State hit a pair of solo home runs from Addison Barnard and Bailey Urban, but South Florida scored the go-ahead run in the 5th to claim a one-run win, 3-2.

THE WONG BALL
Wichita State hit the jackpot with the addition of CC Wong from the transfer portal. Wong ranks 3rd nationally in batting average (.482), 4th in on base percentage (.572), 10th in slugging percentage (.895), 20th in total bases (102), 26th in home runs per game (0.33) and 30th in runs per game (1.03). She is the only player at the NCAA DI level hitting .480 or better with 10+ home runs.

JUST GRAND
Hitting from the leadoff spot in the order CC Wong has found herself at the plate with the bases loaded eight times this season. Safe to say she rarely misses. With the bases loaded Wong is 7-for-8 (.875) with 2 home runs and 17 RBI. Her numbers with runners in scoring position include: 18-for-34 (.529) with 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 4 walks, 28 RBI and just 2 strikeouts. When she's at the plate with 2 outs and runners on: 11-for-20 (.550), 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 4 walks and 15 RBI.

FOUR-HEADED ATTACK
In conference play Wichita State's offense has been powered by CC Wong, Addison Barnard, Taylor Sedlacek and Krystin Nelson. The quartet is responsible for 65% of Wichita State's hits, 73% of its home runs and 66% of its RBI's. Those four are 84-for-195 (.431) at the plate with 19 doubles, 24 home runs and 70 RBI. The rest of the team is hitting a combined 45-for-248 (.181) in AAC games.

NINE-HOLE NELSON
Krystin Nelson has been red-hot over the past month at the plate for the Shockers. Since March 1, the junior is hitting .444 (28-for-63) with 8 doubles, 2 home runs, 11 RBI, 9 walks and has scored 19 runs after starting the season 1-for-26 (.038). Nelson has six multi-hit games during that stretch. In conference games only her numbers are even better. Through the first 18 games of American Athletic Conference play she's hitting .476 with 7 doubles, a home run, 7 RBI and 14 runs scored. Nelson is 8-for-15 (.533) at the plate with 2 outs in AAC games.

RPI - WEEK SEVEN
Wichita State checked in at No. 44 in the seventh week of RPI rankings on April 16. The Shockers have already faced 13 teams in the Top 55, including No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 7 Missouri (twice), No. 11 Arkansas (twice), No. 12 Oklahoma State, No. 15 Auburn, No. 20 Clemson, No. 27 South Carolina, No. 34 Kansas (twice), No. 37 Charlotte (three times), No. 42 Florida Atlantic (three times), No. 43 Nebraska (twice), No. 46 Tulsa (three times) and No. 53 South Florida (three times). The Shockers still have games against No. 12 Oklahoma State and No. 63 North Texas (three times).

TOUGH SLEDDING
Wichita State has never shied away from playing a tough schedule, and that is no different in 2024. The Shockers have already played nine teams ranked in the NFCA Top 25: No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 4 Oklahoma State (Mar. 6), No. 6 Oklahoma State (Apr. 17), No. 8 Clemson, No. 25 Auburn, No. 20 South Carolina, No. 15 Arkansas (twice) and No. 14 Missouri (twice).

UP NEXT
Wichita State continues its homestand with a weekend series vs. UAB, April 19-21.