You win some; you lose some.

The Wichita State softball team split the first two games of the Mardi Gras Classic in Monroe, La., dropping the first to the University of California-Santa Barbara and bouncing back to win decisively against Grambling State, 8-0. Sloan Anderson pitched a complete game in the win allowing just two hits and tying a career-high with eight strikeouts.

Day two of the tournament was not as friendly to the Shockers. They lost two close games, both scores 3-1, against Mississippi Valley State and Louisiana Monroe.

With a disappointing 2012 season behind them, the Shockers look to build a tradition of winning around second year coach, Kristi Bredbenner. Bredbenner comes from Emporia State where she was the best softball coach in ESU history with 326 victories, winning more than 76 percent of all games.

WSU went 15-40 last season after a difficult starting schedule and being unable to overcome early injuries to key players. With a Bredbenner recruiting class also on its way, WSU can hope for a better 2013 season.

“No one likes to lose 40 games, and we have a lot of pride,” Bredbenner said. “You can want it, but ultimately you have to put a better product on the field.”

WSU softball still has three more early-season tournaments to work on getting their squad up to game speed for Missouri Valley Conference play. After going only 7-20 last year in the Valley, WSU is a preseason long shot, being picked eighth out of 10 teams in the MVC preseason poll.

“We could be the top team in the conference,” Bredbenner said. ”We were in almost every game and we’re good enough if we can just finish those games. Teams underestimate us, but the problem is we underestimate ourselves as well.”

The Shockers continue play at the FGCU/LaQuinta Inn and Suites Tournament in Ft. Myers, Fla., February 15-17, where they will play defending national champion, Alabama.