by WICHITA, Kan. – Behind a no-hitter and a grand slam from Asea Webber (Kickapoo/Cherokee), Wichita State claimed its first home sweep of the season after two wins over Nebraska on Sunday at Wilkins Stadium. The Shockers defeated the Huskers 6-2 in game one and 7-5 in the finale.
Caitlin Bingham and Erin McDonald didn’t allow a hit to Nebraska to lead the Shockers defensively in game one, coming up with the first no-hitter since Katie Malone on April 16, 2014 in a 12-0 victory over Missouri State. Sunday was the first time since 2006, when Margo Pruis shutdown Northern Colorado and struck out 13 batters in a 6-0 victory.
The no-hitter also marked the first time since May 9, 2003 (Lindsay Craig and Lindsey Lang vs. Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament) where two Shocker pitchers combined to no-hit the opponent.
Game One
After two walks in the top of the third inning, Nebraska struck first off a sacrifice fly in foul territory to claim an early one-run lead. The Cornhuskers followed up with another sac fly to move ahead 2-0 after the first-half inning.
Following a bunt single from Wylie Glover, Madison Perrigan advanced her on a single and Glover managed to score off a Nebraska error. The Shockers tied the game in the bottom of the first, with Bailee Nickersondelivering a single up the middle to knot the game at 2-2.
McDonald retired nine consecutive batters through the fourth inning and the Shockers took advantage, with Kaylee Huecker leading off the bottom of the fourth with a single to left field. Getting the bases loaded after a hit by pitch and Nebraska error, Nickerson came up with a left field double that pushed the Shockers to a three-run lead. McDonald sat down the first 17 batters she faced.
Ryleigh Buck followed the scoring spree in the bottom of the fifth, coming up with her third home run of the season to give Wichita State the 6-2 lead. McDonald forced five more outs before giving up her first walk, but forced a fly out to left field to end the top of the sixth.
Nebraska drew another walk in the top of the seventh, but McDonald forced the Cornhuskers to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
Game Two
Looking to avoid the sweep, Nebraska once again jumped out to an early lead after Samantha Owens came up with a double down the left field line. Following singles by Buck and Huecker and a walk from Sydney McKinney, Glover drove in the tying run off a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the second inning.
Following a Husker walk, Tristen Edwards hit a home run to center field that gave Nebraska a 3-1 lead in the top of the third. A bunt single in the top of the fourth inning allowed Nebraska to extend its lead to three in the top of the fourth, but Wichita State managed to cut the deficit down to one following a Nebraska error and a sacrifice fly by Perrigan a half-inning later.
After coming into pitch in relief, Nebraska’s Lindsey Walljasper came up with a solo shot to left field that extended the lead to 5-3. With the pressure mounting on, Webber came up in the clutch with the bases loaded. Her second home run of the year went to right field, with the grand slam allowing the Shockers to take the go-ahead lead 7-5.
With the grand slam, Webber set a new career high in RBI with four, while Huecker tied her career high with two hits in each game of the doubleheader. Huecker is on a five-game hit streak, coming up with two hits in three of those five contests.
Hailey Martinez came up with her second win of the season after coming in a relief role, while McDonald claimed her third save of the season after three innings pitched and striking out two batters.
