Tulsa (12-21, 4-8) at Wichita State (19-14, 7-5)
Wichita, Kan. | Wilkins Stadium
Thursday, April 2 | 6:00 PM
Friday, April 3 | 6:00 PM
Saturday, April 4 | 12:00 PM
TV: ESPN+ (All Games)
Stats: Statbroadcast.com
 

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Thursday, April 2 | Thirsty Thursday - Enjoy drink specials at the concession stand throughout the game while cheering on Shocker Softball at Wilkins Stadium.

Friday, April 3 | Candy-Filled Egg Hunt - Bring the whole family for an exciting night of Shocker Softball. Kids can hunt for hidden eggs after the game during our Candy-Filled Egg Hunt Under the Lights. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bucket.
Shocker Store Sunglasses Giveaway (First 500 Fans) | $5 Friyay Drink Special | Shocker Store Pop-Up Shop 

Saturday, April 4 | SCHEELS Junior Shocker Day - SCHEELS Junior Shocker Members are invited to a special game day made just for them! Members receive free admission and can enjoy exclusive experiences designed to bring them closer to the action, from behind-the-scenes access to fun on-field activities. 
RSVP HERE - Must be a SCHEELS Junior Shocker Member to Participate
 

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QUICK HITS
• Wichita State looks to snap a three-game losing streak when Tulsa comes to town for a weekend series.
• Wichita State is 32-21 all time vs. Tulsa with wins in 15 of the last 20 meetings.
• Wichita State is 6-4 over its last 10 games.
• Wichita State's midweek at Oklahoma State on March 10 was suspended until April 8 with the game in the bottom of the 7th with 1 out and the Shockers leading 8-3. The two teams will finish that game before starting the scheduled game on April 8.
• Wichita State had its 7-game win streak in the series finale vs. Florida Atlantic. Wichita State recorded its first-ever series win over the Owls.
• Freshman Kinzey Woody has 6 home runs this season. Her first 4 career home runs completed the home run cycle, hitting a solo HR, 2-R HR, 3-R HR and a grand slam. Her first career HR was a walk-off grand slam.
• Jade Sanders threw the program's 22nd no-hitter in the 8-0 run-rule win over Creighton on Feb. 21. It was the first no-hitter since Chloe Barber's 5-inning no-no on May 5, 2024.
• Ausha Moore ranks 1st in the American in on base percentage at .540 and home runs (11).
• Moore is a two-time American Player of the Week, earning the weekly honor on March 2 and March 23.
• Wichita State ranks 25th nationally in home runs per game (1.52) and 27th in total home runs (50). Defensively, the Shockers rank 22nd in double plays (17).
• Wichita State is scheduled to face eight NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago (Mississippi State, Arkansas, Clemson, Miami (OH), Oklahoma State, Florida Atlantic, South Florida, Oklahoma).
• Wichita State was picked to finish 3rd by the league's coaches in the 2026 American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. Florida Atlantic received 8 first place votes and was picked to win the league. USF came in 2nd.
• Seven Shockers return in 2026, led by 2025 American Conference Co-Freshman of the Year, Ryley Nihart.
• Wichita State welcomes 14 newcomers into the fold in the way of seven transfers, two junior college transfers and five freshmen.

SCOUTING TULSA
Tulsa enters the weekend at 12-21 overall and 4-8 in American play. After being swept in each of their first two conference series, the Golden Hurricane have won two straight series, including a series win over first place South Florida. Claira Skaggs is back after missing all of the 2025 season with an injury. She leads Tulsa in batting average (.321), runs (23), hits (35), home runs (6) and RBIs (26). Maura Moore is back for yet another season in the circle. She's 6-10 with a 4.24 ERA, 32 walks and 88 strikeouts in 95.2 innings.

SERIES HISTORY
Wichita State and Tulsa first met in March of 1994 and have faced off a total of 73 times. The Shockers hold a 42-31 lead in the all-time series, and have won 15 of the last 20 meetings. Since 1994, Wichita State and Tulsa have played every year with the exception of a two-year gap in 2012 and 2013.

LAST MEETING VS. THE GOLDEN HURRICANE
After Wichita State took 2-of-3 against the Golden Hurricane during the 2025 regular season, the two teams met again in the second round of the American Conference Championship. Tulsa scored a run in the first and second, but Wichita State answered with a run in the third and fourth to tie the game at 2-2. Heading into the bottom of the 6th, it remained tied at 2-2 until Wichita State scored three to grab a 5-2 lead. Ryley Nihart sealed the 5-2 win in the 7th to earn the complete game win in the circle.

LAST TIME OUT
Wichita State dropped its second conference series of the season this past weekend at South Florida. After the Shockers took Game 1 in 11 innings, 5-4, the Bulls regrouped to win the final two games, 3-1 and 6-3. In the opening game Wichita State went into the bottom of the 7th with a 4-1 lead only to see the Bulls score three runs, including the game-tying runs on a strikeout, throwing error. Finally Wichita State scrapped out a go-ahead run in the top of the 11th and escaped a bases loaded jam in the home half to hang on for the win. In Game 2, Wichita State managed just four hits and scored its only run on Ausha Moore's solo home run. In the finale, Wichita State again scored all of its runs on solo home runs, including a two-home run game from Trinity Allen. Wichita State then dropped a midweek matchup at No. 3 Oklahoma on Tuesday, 12-3 in 6 innings. Moore and Kammie Smith provided the runs on a solo and two-run home run.

BRINGING THE WOOD(Y)
Freshman Kinzey Woody is coming off a scorching weekend series vs. Florida Atlantic. Woody was 8-for-10 with two home runs and three RBIs. She had a hit in eight straight at bats over the three games, going 3-for-3 in Game 1 and 4-for-4 in Game 2. After her stellar week, D1 Softball named Woody the Mid-Major Freshman of the Week. Through the first 12 conference games, Woody is hitting a team-high .500 (19-for-38) with 5 home runs and 13 RBIs.

HOME RUN CYCLE
Kinzey Woody has 6 home runs so far in her freshman season. The first 4 home runs of her career completed the home run cycle - hitting a walk-off grand slam for her first career home run on Feb. 21 vs. Creighton, a 3-run home run on March 13 vs. UAB, a 2-run home run on March 14 vs. UAB and finally a solo home run vs. FAU on March 20. Not a bad way to start your collegiate career.

AUSHA AGAIN
For a second time this season Ausha Moore was named the American Conference Player of the Week. Moore took home the weekly honor on March 23 after hitting .500 (8-for-16) in games against South Dakota State and Florida Atlantic. She had a pair of multi-home run games, including a grand slam against the Jackrabbits.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK FOR A GAME AND TWO OUTS
Wichita State's midweek game at #21 Oklahoma State was suspended in the bottom of the 7th with one out due to weather. The Shockers were two outs away from recording a top 25 win until rain and lightning stopped the game. The two teams will complete the game on April 8 in Wichita with the Shockers leading 8-3 when the Cowgirls were already scheduled to play at Wichita State.

RPI - WEEK FOUR
Wichita State checked in at No. 57 in the fourth week of RPI rankings on March 30. The Shockers have already faced 12 teams in the Top 65, including No. 3 Arkansas, No. 14 Mississippi State, No. 21 Oklahoma State, No. 22 Clemson, No. 27 Baylor, No. 36 South Florida (three times), No. 41 Missouri, No. 42 Florida Atlantic (three times), No. 49 Kansas, No. 50 Texas State and No. 63 Miami (OH). The Shockers still have games against No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 21 Oklahoma State, No. 46 Charlotte (three times) and No. 49 Kansas.

NO-NO
Jade Sanders tossed the program's 22nd no-hitter in the 8-0 run-rule win over Creighton on Feb. 21. Sanders struck out 10 and walked only two in 6.0 innings of work. Its the first no-hitter since Chloe Barber's on May 5, 2024 vs. Memphis. Sanders' 10 strikeouts are the most in a no-hit performance by a Wichita State pitcher since Margo Pruis struck out 13 in her no-hitter on March 11, 2006 vs. Northern Colorado.

GRAND FASHION
Wichita State freshman Kinzey Woody hit her first career home run - a walk-off grand slam - on Feb. 21 vs. Creighton. It was the first grand slam since Addison Barnard vs. Tulsa in the American Conference Championship on May 9, 2024 and the first walk-off home run since Barnard on April 20, 2024 vs. UAB.

TOUGH SLEDDING
Wichita State has never shied away from playing a tough schedule, and that is no different in 2026. The Shockers are scheduled to play six teams ranked or receiving votes in the Preseason NFCA Top 25: No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 9 Arkansas, No. 13 Clemson, No. 22 Mississippi State and No. 24 Oklahoma State. Florida Atlantic received votes.

COLLECTING THE ACCOLADES
The Shockers had a First-Team All-Conference honoree for the 12th consecutive season in 2025. Lauren Lucas earned First Team All-Conference honors this season. The streak began in 2013 with Erin Carney.

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON
Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner started a new tradition in 2021 to reward players who hit home runs. Instead of a normal high-five for her players as they round the bases, Bredbenner began tossing a piece of Hi-Chew candy to her home run hitters. Former Shocker Madyson Espinosa should be credited for introducing the chewy candy to Coach B at the first tournament of the season down in Conroe, Texas, and thus a new tradition was born. The tradition enters season No. 5 in 2025, so be on the lookout for flying candy.

THE BRED-WINNER
Kristi Bredbenner is the longest tenured head coach in Wichita State softball history, which has resulted in 440 wins in 15 seasons. Bredbenner has the second-highest winning percentage in school history (.574) behind current Florida softball coach Tim Walton. She is Wichita State's all-time wins leader after surpassing Jim Maynard on April 24, 2022.

UP NEXT
Wichita State continues its homestand next week when Oklahoma State comes to town. The Shockers and Cowgirls will finish the game that was postponed on March 10 in Stillwater at 5:15 p.m., followed by a 6:00 p.m. first pitch for the regularly scheduled game.