WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State's seventh inning rally came up two runs short as they fell to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 6-4, on Sunday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium.
 
SDSU took the early lead with a RBI single in the top of the first inning, but Shocker starter Chloe Barber avoided disaster by leaving the bases full of Jackrabbits to minimize the threat.
 
In the second, the Jacks added to their lead, scoring two runs in their half to take a 3-0 lead.
 
SDSU continued their good day at the plate in the third inning, adding another two runs to jump out to a 5-0 lead.
 
In the bottom half of the third, the Shockers worked the bases loaded with two outs and Taylor Sedlacek drew a walk to get WSU on the board, making it a 5-1 game, but that's all they would get.
 
The Jackrabbits got the run right back in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to retake a five-run lead, but Ryley Nihart struck out three Jacks in a row to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Jodie Epperson recorded the Shockers' first hit, a double off the wall in left center, and later came in to score on an RBI single by Camryn Compton, making it 6-2.
 
After a scoreless fifth and sixth inning, the Shockers loaded the bases with only one out, and Sedlacek broke through with an RBI single to left. Soon after, Krystin Nelson scampered home on a wild pitch to make it a 6-4 game.
 
Unfortunately for the Shockers, that was all they could muster, as Sami Hood flew out to center and Catelyn Beckerley fell just a few feet short of a walk-off home run, ending the game.
 
Barber (2-5) suffered the loss. Nihart was excellent in relief, tossing 4.1 innings, allowing just one run on the solo homer. The freshman struck out eight and walked just one.
 
Next Up
The Shockers travel to Kansas City, Mo. to play the Kansas City Roos on March 5 at 4:00 PM at Urban Youth Academy.