Softball | 3/17/2025 2:45:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Wichita State catcher Gabby Scott hit her first college home run on Sunday and taking home the souvenir did not concern her.
 
"That's OK, because I know there are more to come," she said after a series-deciding 9-3 win over North Texas at Wilkins Stadium.
 
Scott's home run provided one of the highlights of a weekend highlighted by Shocker freshmen. After dropping Friday's opener 8-6, WSU handled the Mean Green 7-2 and 9-3. Add in last week's 7-3 win at Kansas and the Shockers (13-13, 2-4 American Athletic Conference) have won three of four with newcomers playing a lead role.
 
"We've got a core of freshmen who I think are starting to step up and understand the game a little bit more and gain some confidence," coach Kristi Bredbenner said.
 
That is especially true in the circle, where Ava Sliger and Ryley Nihart are stepping forward. Designated player Brookelyn Livanec, from Mount Belvieu, Texas, drove in six runs over those four games, two each against Kansas and in Saturday's win over North Texas. Her average is up to .400 after nine starts
 
Sliger, from Tupelo, Okla., earned a complete-game win on Saturday by holding North Texas to seven hits and two unearned runs in the 7-2 win.
 
Nihart, from Alvin, Texas, pitched three scoreless innings to close out the win over the Jayhawks. On Friday, she held North Texas to six hits and one run over five innings to leave with a 6-1 lead before the Mean Green rallied with seven runs in the sixth inning. She kept rolling on Sunday to limit North Texas to two runs and four hits over five innings in a 9-3 win.
 
"The fall was a little rough for me, but I think coming out into the season I had a new mindset," Nihart said. "My confidence went up. Stayed level-headed, and I think that's helped a lot."
 
 

CAUTION: Balls are flying out of Wilkins @gscott2024 WITH HER FIRST CAREER HOME RUN 🤩 pic.twitter.com/5n4RUuTaAN

— Wichita State Softball (@GoShockersSB) March 16, 2025

Nihart relies on moving the ball and changing speeds to keep hitters off-balance. The Mean Green recorded 10 flyball outs against Nihar on Sunday. She struck out two and walked one. On Friday, she recorded nine flyouts, struck out one and didn't walk a batter.
 
"She's been our best lately," Bredbenner said. "She's working the corners. She's not flashy, but she's getting the job done."
 
On Sunday, Nihart gave up a double to lead off the fourth inning. She retired the next three batters. A two-run home run got the Mean Green started in the fifth. Again, Nihart kept her composure and got out of the inning with no more damage.
 
"She's a competitor," Bredbenner said. "That's what we need right now, somebody that wants the ball and wants to get out there."
 
Nihart and Scott room together.
 
"I love having her behind the plate," Nihart said. "We have a pretty good connection. She can look at me a certain way and know that something's wrong."
 
Scott, from Angleton, Texas, started her first game at catcher against Kansas. She started all three games of the weekend series and went 4 for 9 with a double, a homer and eight runs driven in.
 
A foot injury slowed her in the fall. This spring, her performance improved with more at-bats and more practice time.
 
"It was a big confidence thing," she said. "Being new to college softball was just a lot. It's finding my footing and getting confidence back."
 
She hit her first home run in the third innings, driving a 3-1 pitch over the center-field wall to score two runs and give the Shockers a 6-0 lead. She round third and knew it was time to catch the Hi-Chew candy from Bredbenner.
 
"I was like 'Oh my gosh, don't drop it, don't drop it,'" she said.
 
Scott handled the traditional candy reward smoothly. She and her fellow freshmen are figuring out college softball.
 
 

🥶@RyleyNihart33 with her first strikeout of the afternoon to open the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/LjRU9tgQOe

— Wichita State Softball (@GoShockersSB) March 16, 2025

 
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.