The Wichita State softball team just crushed this NCAA record for home runs in a game
There might never be a better home run-hitting display than the one by the Wichita State softball team to etch their place in the record books on Friday.
The Shockers shattered the NCAA softball record for home runs in an inning, hitting seven during the second frame of Friday’s game at East Carolina. WSU crushed its single-game program record for homers (10), runs (24) and hits (23) in the 24-1 run-rule victory.
The Shockers also tied the team single-season record for home runs, with 103.
During one stretch in the second inning, WSU hit back-to-back-to-back bombs with Lauren Mills, Lainee Brown and Wylie Glover all clearing the fence. The Shockers’ lineup batted around and Zoe Jones joined a long list of players in the NCAA record book with two home runs in the same inning.
Another notable accomplishment came from junior Sydney McKinney, who collected two more hits and became the all-time career hits leader in Wichita State history, with 252. McKinney did so in just 178 career games, which is 69 games fewer than it took Britnee Barnett to achieve the previous record.
But the most impressive performance came from Wichita State’s sophomore superstar Addison Barnard, who was 4-for-4 with three home runs, a double and seven RBIs.
Barnard achieved the following:
- She now has 29 home runs, 74 RBIs and 154 total bases — all marks that currently lead the country. Her slugging percentage of 1.038 was second and could move into first following Friday’s games.
- At 29 home runs and 25 stolen bases, she is one home run and five stolen bases away from becoming the first player in NCAA history to reach the 30-30 club.
- She has hit home runs in six consecutive games and will have a chance to join the NCAA record books in Saturday’s game if she can hit another home run.
- For the program single-game records, her 14 total bases set the new program record and her three home runs tied the best mark, while the seven RBI’s were good for second-best in a game.
Even more perspective comes when you realize Barnard has hit 51 career home runs in 94 games, which is a faster per-game pace than OU’s Lauren Chamberlain, who entered the season as the NCAA all-time home runs leader.
Barnard is also just seven homers off the WSU all-time home run lead, set by Maddison Perrigan in 245 games — remember, Barnard hasn’t even played in her 100th game yet.
This story was originally published April 29, 2022 at 5:42 PM.
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