TAMPA, Fla. — Wichita State took Game 1 of its series against South Florida, 5-4, in an 11-inning, four-hour, marathon Friday at USF Softball Stadium.
 
The Shockers (19-10, 7-3) remained undefeated in conference series openers this season, improving to 4-0. The win also snapped a two-game skid against South Florida (25-11, 7-3) in Tampa.
 
After getting its first two batters on base, South Florida scored the game's first run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first, but Ryley Nihart limited the Bulls to just one run.
 
Kammie Smith answered in the top of the second, hitting a solo home run on the first pitch of her at-bat to tie the game at 1-1.
 
With two outs in the top of the third, Kinzey Woody gave the Shockers the lead with a two-run double to the left-center gap, scoring Mackenzie Rooney and Gabby Scott. Smith followed with another hit, a double down the left-field line, to plate Woody, extending the lead to 4-1.
 
Following Smith's RBI double, the teams exchanged scoreless innings, leaving Wichita State in control heading to the bottom of the seventh.
 
Down 4-2 with two outs and the tying runners on base, South Florida capitalized on a Wichita State throwing error to score both runners and force extra innings tied at 4-4.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, the Bulls appeared to win the game on a walk-off RBI single, but the batter had not been properly re-entered into the lineup prior to the at-bat. The play was nullified, the batter was ruled out, and the game continued.
 
With two runners on and one out in the top of the 11th, a South Florida throwing error allowed Rooney to score, giving the Shockers a 5-4 lead.
 
Needing three outs to secure the win, South Florida opened the inning with a single and advanced the runner with a sacrifice bunt. With Nihart back in the circle, the sophomore walked the next two batters but struck out one and induced a lineout to record the final two outs.
 
Jade Sanders (4-3) earned the win in relief. She entered in the top of the seventh, allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Nihart recorded her first save of the season and second of her career after re-entering to secure the final two outs.
 
Five Shockers recorded hits in the game, and all five had multi-hit performances, led by Smith, who went 3-for-6 with two RBIs.
 
Up Next
Wichita State plays Game 2 of the series against South Florida on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at USF Softball Stadium.