Softball dominates Memphis with three-game sweep

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Mia Hennen

Sophomore Addison Barnard is greeted by her teammates during WSU’s game against Memphis on April 23 at Wilkins Stadium.

Heading into their Sunday matchup, Wichita State dominated the first two games of their series against Memphis, finishing both games in five innings due to run rules. Sunday was no different. The Shockers finished the day 19-0, tied for second most in school history, with no runs from senior Erin McDonald.

McDonald extended her record to 7-7 and completed her second career no-hitter. She struck out six and walked two. The Shockers now have 19 recorded no-hitters. McDonald was also the last pitcher to complete a no-hitter back on March 10, 2019 vs Nebraska in a 6-2 victory.

“Today, I can’t talk enough about Erin,” Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “I mean she had really great command, obviously through a no hitter. Had a couple of walks, but you know, that’s in her. She’s got the ability to really do well and spin the ball, and I think she’s starting to kind of figure it out and come into her own a little bit.” 

The Shockers extended their winning streak to eight games, outscoring the Tigers 43-4 in the weekend series. WSU scored at least five runs in the opening inning each game of the series. 

Sophomore Addison Barnard collected the first two runs off a two-run homer in the first. She followed that up with an inside the park home run the following at-bat. The ball bounced off the fence and Barnard raced home for her 26th homer of the season. 

All nine starters finished with at least one hit. Six of the nine finished the day with multiple hits. Sophomore Lauren Lucas went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while junior Lauren Mills drove in four runs off a pair of doubles. Senior Sydney McKinney went 2-for-4 with one triple, two homers and two RBI’s. Senior Wylie Glover hit her second home run of the season with a pair of RBI.

Leading 8-0 after Glover’s homer, the Shockers brought in run after run after their 11-run fourth inning. 

“Offensively, we have full confidence in our team,” Bredbenner said. “They have full confidence in themselves. I don’t think they’re trying to go up there and do too much. They’re just trying to go up there and hit the ball, and when they do, they hit the ball hard and that’s our game plan, to be aggressive.”

After first place Central Florida fell to Houston on Sunday, the Shockers are only one game behind UCF in the conference standings. WSU will wrap up the regular season with a three-game series against the Knights from May 6-8.