Wichita State (13-14, 2-4) at UTSA (13-14, 1-5)
March 21-23
Friday, March 21 | 6:00 PM
Saturday, March 22 | 2:00 PM
Sunday, March 23 | 1:00 PM
San Antonio, Texas | Roadrunner Field
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 UTSA
Vann Stuedeman begins her second season at the helm of the Roadrunners. Most recently serving the 2023 season as pitching coach at Illinois, Stuedeman amassed a career record of 276-189 (.594) as the head coach at Mississippi State (2012-19), leading the Bulldogs to seven winning seasons in eight years. Under her leadership, the Bulldogs made seven NCAA Tournament appearances and won 33 or more games in seven of her eight seasons in Starkville. After the first month of the season, UTSA is 13-14 and 1-5 in American play. Sabrina Wick hits a team-high .337 with a double and 9 RBIs. Makayla Madrid is tied for the team lead with 16 RBIs to go with five doubles. Katia Reyes is responsible for nearly half of the team's home runs with four, while also logging 30.0 innings in the circle. Her 3.27 ERA is tops on the team to go with a 2-1 record.

SERIES HISTORY
A series that started back in 2000 has largely been dominated by Wichita State. In 12 all-time meetings, Wichita State is 11-1 vs. the Roadrunners. After the Shockers won the first five matchups, UTSA picked up its lone win in the series on Feb. 15, 2020 in San Marcos, Texas at the Bobcat Classic. The two teams met one year later in Stillwater at the Mizuno Classic and the Shockers won both times in low scoring games.The Shockers have won each of the last four meetings in run-rule fashion, outscoring the Roadrunners, 43-2.

LAST MEETING VS. THE ROADRUNNERS
Wichita State and UTSA met in the first round of the 2024 American Athletic Conference Championship at Wilkins Stadium on May 8, and it was all Shockers from the first pitch to the end. Addison Barnard homered three times in what turned out to be a historic tournament for the senior All-American. She drove in five runs and Wichita State cruised to a 13-0 win in 5.0 innings. Taylor Sedlacek homered, scored three times and drove in three more. Lainee Brown was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Alison Cooper tossed 3.1 innings of relief to earn the win. The Shockers held UTSA to just two hits.

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. 57 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 opens a five-game homestand with a midweek game against Central Arkansas and Oklahoma, March 25-26.