With the regular season starting to come to a close, Wichita State hosts its last series at Wilkins Stadium against the Southern Illinois Salukis.

In the first two games of the series, wind dominated the field and the WSU offense was stifled. Wichita State lost 2-1 and 10-3.

“The seniors have lived through a huge transition, and I’m proud of what they’ve accomplished,” head coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “All of our seniors came out here and gave us everything they had.”

WSU only generated four hits with the one run coming on a sacrifice fly from Paige Luellen that scored Cacy Williams. The game was tied at 1-1 until the top of the fifth inning, when pitcher Kaitlyn Malone gave up a homerun to SIU’s Merri Anne Patterson.

“We will need to focus on not getting caught up in ourselves and our team,” pitcher Jenni Brooks said. “We’ve got to keep the energy up; we’ve had good energy at time throughout the season and that has helped us win a lot of games.”

In game two of Saturday’s double-header, WSU jumped to an early lead with a solo home run from leadoff hitter Williams. SIU responded in the second inning with two solo home runs of their own to give the Salukis their first lead of the game.

SIU extended their lead on a double from Wilson that scored one run. In the bottom of the third inning WSU led off with singles from Williams and Melanie Jaegers. Luellen reached on an error that scored Williams to cut into the SIU lead. On the next play Liz Broyles reached on a fielder’s choice, which allowed Brittany Fortner to score and even the game at 3-3.

WSU threatened as they loaded the bases, but could not retake the lead.

In the fifth inning SIU relieved some of the pressure from WSU as they added two runs on two singles. In the following inning the Salukis lit up the scoreboard, scoring four more runs with five doubles. WSU went on to lose the second game 10-3.

In the last home game at Wilkins Stadium, WSU was able to rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to win 5-4.

“We played to win today instead of being afraid to lose,” Bredbenner said. “Clutch playing from Macklin [Hitz], SIU’s pitcher was someone I thought [Hitz] could be successful against.”

WSU started the game hot, striking first by scoring two runs in the first inning on a Paige Mason home run. SIU tied the game in the second inning and took a 4-2 lead on a two run home run.

In the fourth inning, senior Ali Vandever had an RBI single to cut into the Salukis’ lead, 4-3. Pitcher Brooks came into the game in relief for starter Katie Malone and allowed no runs on two hits to get the win.

In the bottom of the sixth inning Wichita State was able to capitalize on a Vandever leadoff double. Two batters later pinch hitter Macklin Hitz smacked a two RBI double to center field giving the Shocks the 5-4 lead they would not relinquish.

“Our runners did a great job of getting on base and putting me in that position,” Hitz said. “I knew I needed a base hit to just tie the game, but it ended up scoring both of them.”

WSU heads to Normal, Ill. next weekend to play their final regular season games. The first pitch for game one is set for noon on Saturday, May 3.