Top-seeded Wichita State’s MVC softball tournament losing streak dates to 2010
Wichita State last won a game in the Missouri Valley Conference softball tournament in 2010.
For the second time in three seasons, the Shockers are the No. 1 seed and they will try to break a five-game tournament losing streak in Carbondale, Ill. WSU plays at 12:04 p.m. Friday in a semifinal and will face either No. 4 Southern Illinois (32-18), No. 5 Bradley (18-29) or No. 8 Missouri State (21-29).
The Shocker went 6-1 against those teams in the regular season.
WSU (33-19, 18-6 MVC) clinched sole possession of the Valley title on Saturday with a 5-4 win over Southern Illinois. It has won 12 of 13 games entering the tournament. Sunday’s series finale was rained out.
Drake (29-23) is the second seed. The top two seeds receive a spot in Friday’s semifinals and must win two games to win the tournament and the NCAA bid. Third-seeded Northern Iowa (38-18) and fourth-seeded Southern Illinois play on Thursday and must win three games.
Last season, the fourth-seeded Shockers lost to eighth-seeded Indiana State 5-1, starting the Sycamores on their road to the title and automatic bid to the NCAA regionals. In 2014, fourth-seeded Bradley knocked off the top-seeded Shockers 4-2. The Braves also won the tournament. In 2010, the Shockers opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Drake before losing 5-4 to eventual champion Creighton.
Paul Suellentrop: 316-269-6760, @paulsuellentrop
MVC softball
at Carbondale, Ill.
Thursday
No. 5 Bradley (18-29) vs. No. 8 Missouri State (21-29), 11:04 a.m.
No. 7 Illinois State (18-32) vs. No. 6 Evansville (24-25), 1:34 p.m.
Bradley-Missouri State winner vs. No. 4 Southern Illinois (32-18), 4:04 p.m.
Illinois State-Evansville winner vs. No. 3 Northern Iowa (38-18), 6:34 p.m.
Friday
No. 1 Wichita State (33-19) vs. SIU/BU/MSU, 12:04 p.m.
No. 2 Drake (29-23) vs. UNI/ISU/UE, 2:34 p.m.
Saturday
Championship — 1:04 p.m.
This story was originally published May 8, 2016 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Top-seeded Wichita State’s MVC softball tournament losing streak dates to 2010."