The RoundHouse | 5/11/2024 3:38:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop

Wichita State filled the first three days of the American Athletic Conference Championship with home runs, packed bleachers and a "why not us" vibe.
 
The fourth day ended with a significantly different feeling in Wilkins Stadium. Second-seeded Charlotte run-ruled the fourth-seeded Shockers 10-1 in the title game to secure the AAC's automatic bid to the NCAA regionals.
 
The 49ers (38-16) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Arianna Rodi's leadoff home run. Charlotte continued to hit and took away Wichita State's best threat – and the source of energy from the crowd – by intentionally walking center fielder Addison Barnard three times.
 
The 49ers, playing their second game after a bye into the semifinals, battered three Shockers pitchers for 13 hits and walked six times. WSU (28-22) couldn't make Charlotte pay for pitching around Barnard, named tournament Most Outstanding Player after hitting six home runs in four games. Bailey Urban drove in WSU's run with a fifth-inning single, scoring Barnard after a walk.
 
"They definitely had a good gameplan," WSU coach Kristi Bredbenner said. "They pitched well. Shut us down. Maybe the first ones that were smart enough to walk Addie. She carried us all weekend. They took that away from us."
 
The Shockers entered the game ranked No. 54 in the NCAA's RPI. Bredbenner termed WSU's at-large chances a long shot.
 
"We've got a strong resume – we played a great schedule and we've got some top 25 wins," she said. "I think we probably needed to win this game."
 
The Shockers started freshman Chloe Barber for the third straight day and the 49ers knocked her out in the second inning on their way to an 8-0 lead. WSU's best chance at a rally ended with the bases loaded in the fourth. Krystin Nelson and CC Wong both struck out to keep the score 8-0. Wong, on the previous pitch, dumped a ball into left field that umpires ruled foul, much to the displeasure of the WSU dugout. Since the ball was ruled foul, the play was not eligible for replay.
 
"I thought it was fair, but I didn't have a great view," Bredbenner said. "To me, that's a game-changer. Tough call. If you call that fair, you can go and review that. When you call it foul, it takes the review away."
 
Barnard, a senior from Beatrice, Neb., went 7 for 9 in the four games with six home runs and 13 runs batted in. After the 49ers celebrated and took pictures in center field, many hugged Barnard and congratulated her on the performance.
 
"It's heartbreaking," Barnard said, fighting back tears. "This team means the world to me. I'm leaving this program as a better person, and that's all that matters."
 
Should her career end on Saturday, Barnard owns numerous school and conference records, most notably the career home run record with 93, fourth-most in NCAA history. In an era when many athletes transfer, Barnard said the coaches and teammates kept her at WSU.
 
"If you love it somewhere, why would I leave?" she said. "They've grown me so much. They took a chance on me."
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.