Wichita State (13-13, 2-4) at Texas State (18-6, 3-0)
Wednesday, March 19 | 5:00 PM
San Marcos, Texas | Bobcat Softball Stadium
Video: ESPN+
Stats: Statbroadcast.com
 

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QUICK HITS
• Wichita State spends the week in the Lone Star State with a midweek at Texas State and then a conference series at UTSA.
• Wichita State secured its first conference series, defeating North Texas in the final two games of the weekend.
• The Shockers were swept at #24 Florida Atlantic two weeks ago, marking the first conference sweep since 2015 vs. Southern Illinois.
• Wichita State lost its first four conference games, marking the first time since 2012 the Shockers opened 0-4 to begin conference play.
• Wichita State started the season 5-0 for the first time since 1994 and just the third time in program history. The Shockers' 5-0 weekend in Phoenix also marked the first time since 2021 the Shockers have gone 5-0 at an early season tournament.
• Wichita State will face 12 NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago, which includes eight in the opening month of the season (Grand Canyon, Kentucky, Texas A&M, San Diego State, Liberty, Florida State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Missouri).
• Wichita State has made it to the NCAA Tournament three of the last four years. The 2024 Shockers came up just short of an NCAA Regional, snapping a streak of three straight appearances.
• A pair of redshirt seniors return to the lineup in 2025 after missing all of the 2024 season due to injuries in Lauren Lucas and Camryn Compton.
• Lucas was named to the Softball America Preseason Top 100, sliding in at No. 78.
Freshman pitcher Ava Sliger was named to the D1Softball D100 Freshman Watch List.
• Sliger and freshman teammate Ryley Nihart were named to the Softball America Freshman Watch List.
• The Shockers bring back only two pitchers that recorded innings in 2024: Chloe Barber (Sophomore, AAC All-Rookie Team) and Alex Aguilar (Junior, 2023 AAC Rookie of the Year).
• Wichita State was picked to win the American Athletic Conference in the Preseason Coaches Poll.
• In total, Wichita State returns four starters and 11 letterwinners from a season ago.
• Nine newcomers (six freshman, three transfers) join the team in 2025.
• Bredbenner recorded her 400th career win at Wichita State on Feb. 23 vs. Abilene Christian. She is the all-time winningest coach in program history.

SCOUTING TEXAS STATE
Since her first season in 2001 at the helm of the Texas State softball program, head coach Ricci Woodard has guided the program to a 862-508-2 record, 13 conference championships and 11 Division I Softball NCAA Regional appearances. Entering her 25th season, Woodard has developed 99 all-conference sections, 34 all-region honorees and six NFCA All-Americans. In addition, Woodard has earned five coach of the year awards. Texas State is 18-6 through the first month and a half of the season. Three of their six losses have come against ranked teams (Arkansas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech). Texas State is powered by Aiyana Coleman who leads the Bobcat offense in average (.411), hits (23), doubles (5), home runs (7) and RBIs (21). She is responsible for seven of the team's 13 home runs this season. In the circle, the Bobcats rely on a two-headed attack with Madison Azua and Emma Strood. The duo accounts for 86% of the innings thrown by the staff. Azua is 10-2 with a 1.58 ERA in 75.1 innings to go with 93 strikeouts and just 15 walks. Strood is 7-3 with a 2.62 ERA in 58.2 innings. She has 67 strikeouts to only nine walks.

SERIES HISTORY
Wichita State won the first six meetings vs. Texas State, but the series has been even since 2002. Six of the Shockers' 11 wins in the series have been shutouts. With the exception of a run-rule by Texas State in 2020, the series has been tight nearly every time. Another six of Wichita State's wins in the series have been by two runs or less. Three of Texas State's five wins are by two runs or less.

LAST MEETING VS. THE BOBCATS
Wichita State split a pair of games vs. Texas State in 2023 in the opening tournament of the season in San Marcos. Wichita State edged the Bobcats in the first game, 3-2, behind a complete game from Alison Cooper in the circle. Zoe Jones hit a two-run home run in the top of the 1st to give Wichita State an early 2-0 lead. After the Bobcats tied it at 2, Wichita State scratched out the go-ahead run in the 5th and held on for the win. Two days later Texas State scored all seven of its runs in the bottom of the 3rd and hung on to win, 7-4.

LAST TIME OUT
Wichita State is coming off its first conference series win of the season, taking 2-of-3 against North Texas. North Texas spoiled the series opener behind a 7-run top of the 6th to record an 8-6 comeback win. Wichita State led 6-1 entering the top of the 6th until the Mean Green blitzed pitchers Chloe Barber and Alex Aguilar for seven runs. In Game 2, Wichita State rode freshman pitcher Ava Sliger to complete game, 7-2 win. Sliger tossed her first career complete game, allowing no earned runs. Wichita State's offense broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the 5th behind a 5-run frame. Gabby Scott, Brookelyn Livanec and Camryn Compton had two RBI apiece. In the finale, Wichita State led 1-0 after two innings and then broke it open with a 5-spot in the bottom of the 3rd. Compton and Scott hit home runs in the frame to account for all five runs. Lauren Lucas added a two-run home run of her own in the bottom of the 4th. North Texas belted a two-run home run in the top of the 5th to avoid the run-rule.

SPARK PLUG
Wichita State's offense has received a boost over the last four games in the way of freshman catcher Gabby Scott. Prior to the Kansas game on March 12, Scott had appeared in just four games with six at bats and no hits. She made her first collegiate start at Kansas and went 1-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Over the last four games she's 4-for-9 (.444) with a double, home run, 6 runs and 8 RBI. She hit her first career home run on March 16 vs. North Texas.

RPI - WEEK THREE
Wichita State checked in at No. 54 in the third RPI rankings on March 17. The Shockers have already faced 10 teams in the Top 60, including No. 1 Texas A&M, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 11 Oklahoma State, No. 14 Florida State, No. 29 Kentucky, No. 32 Florida Atlantic (three times), No. 35 Nebraska, No. 36 Missouri, No. 39 Grand Canyon, No. 43 San Diego State, No. 47 Kansas and No. 52 North Texas (three times).The Shockers still have games against No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 11 Oklahoma State, No. 40 South Florida (three times), No. 45 Charlotte (three times), No. 47 Kansas and No. 56 Texas State.

WELCOME BACK
Wichita State welcomes back a pair of super seniors in Lauren Lucas and Camryn Compton after missing the entire 2024 season due to injuries. The duo have 161 combined starts between the two of them. Lucas is a two-time First Team All-Conference performer and earned Third Team All-America honors in 2023 after hitting .384 with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs and 62 RBIs. Her 62 RBIs ranked Top 10 nationally. Compton has battled injuries throughout her career at Wichita State, but her experience will be key in 2025, as she looks to end on a high note.

TOUGH SLEDDING
Wichita State has never shied away from playing a tough schedule, and that is no different in 2025. The Shockers are scheduled to play 10 teams ranked or receiving votes in the Preseason NFCA Top 25: No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 9 Florida State, No. 15 Missouri, No. 19 Nebraska. Kentucky, Texas State, Grand Canyon and Liberty all received votes.

PRESEASON TOP 100 LOVE
Lauren Lucas was named to the Softball America Preseason Top 100 list and the D1 Softball D100 Player Rankings. Lucas checked in at No. 78 on the Softball America Top 100 and No. 88 on the D100. Lucas was also named the No. 21 outfielder according to D1 Softball. Freshman pitcher Ava Sliger was named to the D1 Softball D100 Freshman Watch List on Jan. 8.

UP NEXT
Wichita State continues its Texas road trip in San Antonio against UTSA, March 21-23.