Softball | 10/16/2025 12:51:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Mickayla Tosch liked the usual things an athlete considers when choosing a college. Wichita State softball coaches made a good impression, especially with their emphasis on a family atmosphere and the program's success. She saw construction on the indoor practice facility next to Wilkins Stadium and she knew she would wear Nike uniforms and cleats.
 
"There were a bunch of pluses that I thought were really intriguing," she said.
 
Tosch, a junior outfielder, also wanted the part of softball that isn't always shiny and new.
 
"I don't like easy," she said. "I think it's boring. I wanted something that's going to push me and make me better. If I mess up, I want to be yelled at. I knew that I was going to get pushed here."
 

Tosch, a transfer from McLennan (Texas) Community College, is one of 14 newcomers on the Shocker softball team. The Shockers, after scrimmaging McLennan and Emporia State earlier this month, play 10 innings at Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. Thursday (tonight). Their next home scrimmage is vs. Southern Nazarene at 6 p.m., Oct. 23.
 
Tosch, who earned NFCA All-American honors last spring after hitting .433 with 11 home runs, is adjusting to the hard parts of NCAA Division I softball in the eyes of coach Kristi Bredbenner. She hit three home runs in WSU's two scrimmages.
 
"She's driven," Bredbenner said. "She listens. She wants to be the best, gives you everything she's got."
 
Tosch is joined at WSU by McLennan teammate Trinity Allen, a corner infielder who earned NFCA and NJCAA Player of the Year honors last spring. She hit .481 with 21 doubles and 23 home runs. They roomed together in junior college and again at WSU. Even with all the new, Tosch said team chemistry is building.
 
"I came back from fall break and all the girls were giving me hugs because they missed me," she said. "We've only known each other for a couple months, which I think is really cool and exciting. Our relationships will grow together on and off the field."
 
Bredbenner altered her fall practice schedule to accommodate the roster. The Shockers worked in small groups early in the fall and pushed back full team workouts and scrimmages. WSU played its final scrimmages in early October the past two years.
 
This fall, coaches decided working on fundamentals with groups of four or five before team practices made sense.
 
"It's created a really good foundation," Bredbenner said. "We're making sure everybody is on the same page and we're not learning as a big group on the fly."

 
While the Shockers (29-25-1 last spring) lost six of their top eight hitters, Bredbenner is encouraged by the look of the offense this fall. Centerfielder Jodie Epperson, who hit .290 with 8 home runs last season, and Brookelyn Livanec, who earned a spot on the conference all-freshman team, are the top returners. Catchers Gabby Scott and Catelyn Becker are back for their sophomore seasons. Ausha Moore, a sophomore first baseman transfer from North Texas, hit .283 with five home runs as a freshman.

"I feel like we're already in a better spot than we were last year," Bredbenner said. "It's a well-balanced offense. We're going to have some kids who can hit with power. We've got a good amount of speed and aggressiveness."

Shortstop Chloe Rhine was the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year at Saint Louis. The 2023 Shockers compiled a program-best .984 fielding percentage. Bredbenner mentioned that standard to her team this fall.

"One of the things I'm most excited about is our defense," she said. "We've got good arms, good feet, really good instincts. We've got the potential to have a really remarkable defense."
 

Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
 
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.