SAN MARCOS, Texas — Wichita State dropped its final game of the State's Up Invitational to No. 18/18 Clemson, 9-3, on Sunday at Bobcat Softball Stadium.

The Shockers (3-5) scored the game's first three runs, but Clemson (5-3) answered with the final nine to pull away.

Wichita State quickly jumped on Clemson as Ausha Moore drove in Johnna Schroeder to give the Shockers a 1-0 lead. After Gabby Scott walked to load the bases, Kinzey Woody added another run with an RBI groundout to double the lead. Two batters later, Moore scampered home on a wild pitch to cap a three-run opening frame for Wichita State.

In the bottom half of the inning, Clemson got on the board via a Shocker throwing error to make it 3-1.

The Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out in the second inning and pushed across two unearned runs to tie it at 3-3.

Neither side scored in the third, but Clemson threatened in the bottom of the fourth, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Two strikeouts from Ryley Nihart and an infield popup quelled the threat.

In the fifth, the Tigers broke the deadlock with an RBI single to take a 4-3 lead, chasing Nihart from the game.

Facing Jade Sanders, Clemson added four runs before Ava Sliger entered in relief. One more run scored before Wichita State closed out the inning.

Neither side scored over the final two innings as Clemson secured the 9-3 win.

Nihart (1-2) took the loss for Wichita State. Schroeder was the lone Shocker with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.

Up next
Wichita State heads to Arlington, Texas, for the Boerner Invitational on Feb. 20-22 at Allan Saxe Field.