WACO, Texas — Jodie Epperson's diving catch in left-center field in the seventh inning against Northwestern State sealed Wichita State's first win of the 2026 season Saturday at Getterman Stadium.
 
The Shockers (1-2) defeated Northwestern State (0-3), 7-6, before falling to Baylor (2-1) 9-8 in a walk-off heartbreaker.
 
Wichita State 7, Northwestern State 6
 
The Shockers struck early as the first four Wichita State batters reached base. Ausha Moore drove in the first run of the day with an RBI single to score Johnna Schroeder. Two batters later, Mickayla Tosch added another run on an RBI fielder's choice. After Aeryn Shuman walked on four pitches, Moore and Tosch came in to score on wild pitches, giving Wichita State a 4-0 lead.
 
Neither side scored in the second inning, but Northwestern State broke through against Shocker starter Gabby Fakes in the third with an RBI single. The Demons threatened to do more, but Fakes ended the inning with a strikeout to keep Wichita State ahead 4-1.
 
The Shockers answered in the next half-inning when Gabby Scott drove home Schroeder from second base with an RBI single.
 
Northwestern State responded in the bottom half, scoring two runs on a two-RBI single to trim the deficit to 5-3.
 
In the sixth, Wichita State extended its lead as Schroeder drove in Epperson behind an RBI double. Kammie Smith followed by trading places with Schroeder at second base on another double, pushing the Shockers ahead, 7-3.
 
Northwestern State wasn't finished, scoring three runs off reliever Janelle Wilson to cut the margin to 7-6.
 
Clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh, Wichita State turned to Ava Sliger in the circle. After retiring the first two batters, the Demons put the tying run on base with a single. The next batter lined a ball into left-center field, but Epperson made a diving catch to end the game.
 
Wilson (1-0) earned the win, while Sliger picked up her first save of the season.
 
At the plate, Schroeder led the Shockers, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Smith finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
Baylor 9, Wichita State 8

Against Baylor, Schroeder continued to be a threat on the bases, opening the scoring by sprinting home from second on an infield single by Kinzey Woody in the top of the first.
 
Baylor answered immediately in the bottom half, scoring twice on an RBI groundout and a passed ball to take a 2-1 lead.
 
After a two-inning stalemate, the Bears added two runs on a two-run double in the fourth and another run in the fifth to extend the lead to 5-1.
 
In the sixth, Trinity Allen drove Scott home with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 5-2.
 
Baylor responded again, scoring on a fielder's choice to push the lead back to four runs.
 
Wichita State mounted a rally in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out. Scott delivered a three-run triple to right field to pull the Shockers within one at 6-5.
 
After a walk to Woody, Tosch hit a triple of her own, scoring two runs and giving Wichita State a 7-6 lead — its first since the first inning. Allen followed with a perfectly placed bunt single to make it 8-6.
 
Baylor rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs on three hits and walking off the game on a wild pitch from Jade Sanders.
 
Sanders (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs in 2.1 innings of relief. Allen and Scott recorded two hits apiece and combined for five RBIs.
 
Up Next
The Shockers conclude play at the Getterman Classic on Sunday against New Mexico at 9 a.m. CT.