WSU softball rallies twice for wins over Bradley
The Wichita State softball team picked up a well needed doubleheader sweep of the Bradley Braves on Saturday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium, 8-7 and 11-10.
Wichita State (23-18, 9-5) trailed in both games, 7-3 in the first game and 7-2 in the second game, but used a strong offensive power to win both and pull into second place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings. The Shockers recorded 11 hits in each game.
“There was a lot of fight in this team,” Wichita State coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “Especially in that first game, chipping away, and then having that nine-run inning in game two was big. We’ve got to put the ball in play and make the other team work for it.”
The Shockers, who had lost four of five games going into Saturday, needed their offense to produce on a blustery afternoon. WSU junior Jenni Brooks threw a complete game in the first game, then allowed one run in the final three innings and recorded the save in the second game.
“It’s a good feeling knowing that my coaches relied on me to come in in both games,” Brooks said. “It was pretty nerve-racking coming in in that second game after they saw me in the first game, but I think I did a pretty good job.”
Bradley used a six-run sixth in the first game to go ahead 7-3, with a grand slam by Maria Schroeder the key blow. The Shockers responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ashely Johnson hit a three-run double, then scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Brittany Fortner.
After Brooks worked around a leadoff double in the top of the seventh, WSU won the game on Liz Broyles’ bases-loaded single.
The Shockers fell behind 7-2 in the fourth inning of the second game before a nine-run explosion in the bottom of the fourth – including eight runs with two outs. Macklin Hitz and Johnson each had two-run doubles and Laurie Anne Derrico had a three-run homer.
“I was just getting in there and looking to put the ball in play,” Johnson said. “I know that we play better when we have the lead, and I just wanted to give us the lead.”
Wichita State and Bradley will try to complete the three-game series Sunday, though the weather forecast isn’t promising. The Shockers will hit the road for a doubleheader at Missouri State (15-23, 4-8) on Wednesday and then will travel to Des Moines for a three-game series with MVC-leading Drake.
“You have to play every game like it’s the championship game,” Bredbenner said. “You have to take one game at a time making sure we’re working hard and working hard in all three facets of the game.”
Wichita St 8, Bradley 7
Bradley | 000 | 016 | 0 | — | 7 11 1 |
Wichita St | 010 | 024 | 1 | — | 8 11 0 |
W – Brooks (12-6). L — Hull (3-10). HR – Bradley, Habryle 2, Schroeder; WSU, Luellen.
WSU Batting – Fortner 0-2, Wright 1-4, Hitz 0-2, Luellen 2-4, Williams 1-3, Broyles 3-3, Derrico 1-2, Johnson 1-2, Spring 2-2.
WSU Pitching – Brooks 7 IP-5 ER.
Wichita St 11, Bradley 10
Bradley | 400 | 320 | 1 | — | 10 17 0 |
Wichita St | 101 | 900 | x | — | 11 11 1 |
W – Neil (2-2). L — Mahaffy (5-1). S — Brooks (3).
HR – Bradley, Huggins 2; WSU, Derrico.
WSU Batting – Fortner 1-4, Adams 0-0, Wright 1-3, Hitz 2-4, Luellen 0-0, Williams 1-3, Broyles 2-4, Jamele 0-0, Johnson 1-2, Derrico 3-4, Spring 0-3, Canada 0-1.
WSU Pitching – Neil 3 1/3, Sterneker 2/3-4, Brooks 3-1.
This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 7:21 PM with the headline "WSU softball rallies twice for wins over Bradley."