Wichita State spent most of Thursday night digging out of a hole it created early.
By the time the Shockers got within reach, there wasn’t enough game left.
Facing a six-run deficit through three innings against Tulsa, Wichita State chipped away inning by inning before falling just short in an 11-10 loss in the series opener at Wilkins Stadium.
“We could have gotten ourselves in a little bit of a (bigger) hole and struggled,” head coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “We just kept making adjustments.”
The adjustments came — just not soon enough.
After surrendering a four-run second inning, Wichita State (19-15, 7-6 American) spent the rest of the night responding. Take away that frame, and the Shockers outscored Tulsa 10-7 the rest of the way, a telling split that underscored both their offensive capability and the cost of another slow start.
It’s become a pattern during a four-game skid.
In last Sunday’s loss to South Florida, Wichita State gave up three runs in the second inning. Two days later, No. 3 Oklahoma scored four in the opening frame of a run-rule win. Tulsa (13-21, 5-8) followed the same script Thursday, building a 4-0 lead before the second inning was over.
“We’re having a tough week,” Bredbenner said. “We have to figure out the recipe or the combination to win some ball games.
“Today’s combination wasn’t great, and I’ll take some of the blame.”
The early damage came against sophomore starter Ryley Nihart (7-9), who allowed four runs on five hits in two innings. Tulsa continued to add on against reliever Gabby Fakes, who gave up five runs on seven hits, before Ava Sliger closed the final two innings.
While the pitching staff struggled to contain momentum, the offense steadily built its own.
Wichita State finished with 10 hits and 10 runs, climbing back into the game behind its most dangerous bats.
Junior Trinity Allen delivered the biggest swings, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. Her first came in the fourth inning, a drive to deep right that trimmed an 8-3 deficit to two runs and shifted the energy in the stadium. Senior Jodie Epperson added a solo home run of her own in the fifth to cap off a 2-for-4 night.
“She keeps the ball pretty low in the zone,” Allen said of Tulsa pitcher Brinly Maples (4-4), a former teammate at McLennan Community College. “So, I just knew I needed to get a pitch that was elevated on the plate that I could just barrel up.”
In the sixth, Allen did it again.
Allen launched a two-run shot to pull Wichita State within two again, setting up a tense final stretch. Moments later, freshman Kammie Smith lined an RBI double to bring the Shockers within one, 11-10.
The climb was complete. The comeback wasn’t.
Wichita State put the tying run at the plate throughout the seventh, but the rally ended abruptly with three straight strikeouts.
“We’re a really gritty team,” Allen said. “This team is all about fighting back. Underdog mentality.”
That balance — explosive offense paired with early deficits — has defined the past week. And on Thursday, it defined the difference.
“We got some big hits out of some of our bigger hitters,” Bredbenner said. “Even in the bottom of our lineup.
“If that’s something that we can continue to keep working through this weekend, I like our chances. But we have to figure it out in the circle.”
Wichita State proved it can fight its way back.
The question now is whether it can avoid having to.
The three-game series will continue at 6 p.m. Friday.
