Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State softball team talks in between innings against Memphis. WSU beat Memphis three days in a row for a sweep.

Heartbreak on home turf: Wichita State softball loses against Charlotte in AAC Championship title game

Owen Prothro, Reporter May 12, 2024

The Wichita State softball team’s run through the AAC Championship tournament was stopped just short of the finish line on Saturday in a 10-1 loss in five innings against the University of North Carolina...

Tyrell Burns is a Wichita State graduate who has set his sights on a wrestling career. (Image courtesy of Tyrell Burns)

Computer engineering major sets sights on career in the octagon

Owen Prothro, Reporter May 11, 2024

Tyrell “The H3ro” Burns is graduating this semester as a computer engineering major, utilizing his skills at Koch Industries in the Information Technologies department. Despite this, Burns said he...

Addison Barnard slides into second after hitting a double against Florida Atlantic on March 9.

Softball advances to AAC Championship final after run-ruling Florida Atlantic

Owen Prothro, Reporter May 11, 2024

Wichita State’s softball team advanced to the American Athletic Conference Championship final after beating Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in the semifinals, 12-2 in five innings.  The victory...

Senior Addison Barnard runs to cheering teammates after a home run on April 20. The Shockers beat UAB, 9-1 at Wilkins Stadium.

Softball completes four-run comeback to advance to AAC Championship semifinals

Owen Prothro, Reporter May 10, 2024

On Thursday afternoon, Wichita State’s softball team trailed 8-4 going into the bottom of the fifth inning and rallied off seven runs en route to an 11-9 comeback win. The fourth-seeded Shockers beat...

Senior Addison Barnard screams and runs to home plate after hitting a home run on March 23 against UTSA. Barnard had two home runs in the game.

Addison Barnard’s record night leads WSU past UTSA in first round of AAC

Melanie Rivera-Cortez, Sports Editor May 9, 2024

With a home-field advantage, Wichita State softball blew out the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in the first round of the American Athletic Conference tournament with a 13-0 win in five innings.  The...

Emilio Escamilla, the director of video and data analytics for Wichita State baseball, runs the TrackMan system on the third floor of Eck Stadium on May 8.

How Wichita State baseball uses data and analytics for player development

Jacob Unruh, Assistant Sports Editor May 9, 2024

Emilio Escamilla, the director of video and data analytics for Wichita State baseball, has a phrase he consistently repeats when describing the value of his job: “adapt or die.” The quote, originating...

CC Wong celebrates after getting on base on April 5 against Tulsa. Wong had one hit.

‘She’s a really genuine person’: From Canada to Wichita, CC Wong reflects on her time at Wichita State

Jacinda Hall, Podcast Editor May 8, 2024

Before she was a Shocker, Wichita State senior infielder CC Wong hailed from a family of softball players. “My family has been a part of the fast pitch/softball world since I was born,” Wong said....

Head Coach for the Shockers softball team, Kristi Bredbenner stands by the dugout in the second inning of a game in April 2023.

Softball’s Kristi Bredbenner reflects on coaching, changing the culture

Melanie Rivera-Cortez, Sports Editor May 7, 2024

When head coach Kristi Bredbenner was a little girl, she played many sports but found that softball was the perfect fit for her. “I wasn't gifted with speed, and it was a sport that allowed me to...

Wichita State softball team talks in between innings against Memphis. WSU beat Memphis three days in a row for a sweep.

Softball ends regular season with series sweep against Memphis as Chloe Barber throws no-hitter

Trinity Ramm, Managing Editor May 6, 2024

In Wichita State’s senior weekend, freshman pitcher Chloe Barber entered the record books with a no-hitter in the third game. The Shockers closed out its final series of the regular season over the...

Senior Seth Stroh rounds third base after hitting a home run on April 3 against KU. Stroh had two hits and one run.

Baseball outruns Roadrunners in series win at UTSA, snaps road losing streak

Owen Prothro, Reporter May 6, 2024

Over the weekend, Wichita State’s baseball team outscored the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), 24-12, in a 2-1 series win against the Roadrunners, rounding out its five-game road trip. The...

Senior Bailey Urban celebrates after hitting an RBI double on April 5 against Tulsa. Urban had one hit.

Bailey ‘the softball player’ Urban overcomes adversity in last season

Melanie Rivera-Cortez, Sports Editor May 5, 2024

Inside Wilkins Stadium, Wichita State softball fans can see redshirt senior outfielder Bailey Urban wearing the number seven on her jersey and a brace on her right knee. During her junior year, Urban...

Senior Nate Adler screams and celebrates after closing off the ninth inning on April 3 against KU. Adler had four strikeouts, three of which came in the ninth.

Nate Adler looks back on three years of WSU baseball and ahead to the future

Ainsley Smyth, Reporter May 5, 2024

Nate Adler describes himself as “a big family guy,” something that got him to where he is today. “(I’ve) got a big family,” he said. “All of us played sports growing up. So sports have always...

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