GREENVILLE, N.C. — A big seventh inning powered Wichita State to a 14-5 victory over East Carolina on Friday in the American Conference opener at Max R. Joyner Stadium.
 
The Shockers (11-7, 1-0) won their conference opener for the first time since 2022 with the win over East Carolina (15-9, 0-1).
 
Wichita State quickly loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first, poised to strike. East Carolina got the next two batters out, but Kinzey Woody drew a bases-loaded walk to open the scoring. The Pirates appeared to end the inning against Jodie Epperson, but the catcher missed touching home plate, allowing Scott to score, making it 2-0.
 
In the bottom of the first, East Carolina got one run back on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Pirates tied the game by scoring on a throwing error in the third.

Wichita State regained the lead immediately on a solo home run by Epperson to make it 3-2. Later in the inning, Kammie Smith dropped a bases-loaded single into right field to score another run to increase the Shocker lead to 4-2.
 
East Carolina responded in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs on a throwing error and a bases-loaded walk to tie the game before taking a 5-4 lead on an RBI single.
 
The Shockers answered again, with Epperson tying the game on an RBI double that scored Johnna Schroeder. Ausha Moore then brought Epperson home with a single to give Wichita State a 6-5 lead.

After Ryley Nihart hung a zero in the bottom half, Trinity Allen launched a solo home run over the left field fence in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 7-5.
 
In the seventh, the Shockers blew the game open with seven runs. After loading the bases with nobody out, Mackenzie Rooney scored on a passed ball, and Scott drove Moore home with an RBI single to make it 9-5. Still with nobody out, Allen drove in Smith to push Wichita State into double digits at 10-5. Pinch-runner Morgan Lloyd scored from third before Epperson capped the inning with a three-run home run, her second of the game, extending the lead to 14-5.
 
Nihart got the final three outs without trouble to close out the victory for Wichita State.
 
Nihart (4-5) threw a complete game in the win. Epperson finished 3-for-5 with a career-high two home runs and six RBIs. Smith was 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Moore extended her hit streak to seven straight, while drawing three walks.
 
Up next
Wichita State plays East Carolina in Game 2 of the series Saturday at 1 p.m. CT at Max R. Joyner Stadium.