Central Arkansas (14-17, 3-2) at Wichita State (15-15, 4-5)
#1 Oklahoma (29-1, 8-1) at Wichita State (15-15, 4-5)
Tuesday, March 25 | 5:00 PM
Wednesday, March 26 | 6:00 PM
Wichita, Kan. | Wilkins Stadium
Video: ESPN+
Stats: Statbroadcast.com
Central Arkansas
2 for 1 Tuesday: Two GA tickets for the price of one!
Oklahoma
Yellow Out: Show your Shocker Pride by wearing yellow!
Giveaway: Free rally towel for first 500 Shocker fans!
Postgame Fireworks (weather pending)
Shocker Store Pop-Up Shop
QUICK HITS
• Wichita State plays five games at Wilkins Stadium this week, beginning with midweek matchups against Central Arkansas and Oklahoma.
• Wichita State secured its second straight conference series win, taking two of three at UTSA last weekend.
• The Shockers were swept at #24 Florida Atlantic two weeks ago, marking the first conference sweep since 2015 vs. Southern Illinois.
• Lauren Lucas is riding an 11-game hit streak. Lucas is hitting .517 (15-for-29) in AAC play.
• Wichita State lost its first four conference games, marking the first time since 2012 the Shockers opened 0-4 to begin conference play.
• Wichita State started the season 5-0 for the first time since 1994 and just the third time in program history. The Shockers’ 5-0 weekend in Phoenix also marked the first time since 2021 the Shockers have gone 5-0 at an early season tournament.
• Wichita State will face 12 NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago, which includes eight in the opening month of the season (Grand Canyon, Kentucky, Texas A&M, San Diego State, Liberty, Florida State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Missouri).
• A pair of redshirt seniors return to the lineup in 2025 after missing all of the 2024 season due to injuries in Lauren Lucas and Camryn Compton.
• Lucas was named to the Softball America Preseason Top 100, sliding in at No. 78.
Freshman pitcher Ava Sliger was named to the D1Softball D100 Freshman Watch List.
• Sliger and freshman teammate Ryley Nihart were named to the Softball America Freshman Watch List.
• The Shockers bring back only two pitchers that recorded innings in 2024: Chloe Barber (Sophomore, AAC All-Rookie Team) and Alex Aguilar (Junior, 2023 AAC Rookie of the Year).
• Wichita State was picked to win the American Athletic Conference in the Preseason Coaches Poll.
• In total, Wichita State returns four starters and 11 letterwinners from a season ago.
• Nine newcomers (six freshman, three transfers) join the team in 2025.
• Bredbenner recorded her 400th career win at Wichita State on Feb. 23 vs. Abilene Christian. She is the all-time winningest coach in program history.
SCOUTING CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Led by fourth year head coach Jenny Parsons, Central Arkansas is 14-17 through the first half of the 2025 season. Parsons led the Bears to a banner year in 2023. Central Arkansas won a program-record 45 games, claiming the team’s first ASUN regular season and conference tournament titles. In doing so, the Bears earned their first NCAA Regional berth since 2015. Prior to being named the head coach in June of 2021, Parsons spent 10 seasons on staff as an assistant/associate head coach. After missing all of the 2024 campaign, Madi Young is back for the Bears. Young was the 2023 ASUN Defensive Player of the Year. She has a team-high 21 RBIs so far this season to go with a .286 average, six doubles, a triple and a home run. Kylie Griffin hits a team-best .404 with four triples and 13 RBI. As a team, the Bears have hit only eight home runs, but have 42 doubles and nine triples. They are 38-for-39 on stolen base attempts. The pitching staff sports a 5.42 ERA with 116 strikeouts to 99 walks. Madge Layfield is 4-2 with a 4.36 ERA in 33.0 innings. Bailie Runner has thrown a team-high 85.2 innings in 18 appearances. The former Oklahoma State Cowgirl is 5-9 with a 5.04 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
Wichita State and Central Arkansas have met just twice entering Tuesday’s midweek contest. The Shockers won both meetings prior to Kristi Bredbenner‘s arrival in Wichita. This will be Central Arkansas’ first trip to Wichita.
LAST MEETING VS. THE BEARS
At the 2010 Getterman Classic in Waco, Texas, Wichita State’s lone win of the tournament came against Central Arkansas on Day 2. The Shockers scored a pair of runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 9-1 win. Lindsie Mitts tied a career high with three hits and Kasha Kolb tossed a complete game in the circle.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA
The four-time defending National Champions are off to another hot start in 2025 at 29-1 and ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in all four polls. The Sooners’ offense is once again producing at a powerful, efficient clip. OU hits .332 with 50 doubles and 60 home runs. Ella Parker is hitting .436 with 12 doubles, five home runs and 26 RBIs. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas is tied for the team lead with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs. The pitching staff sports just a 1.90 ERA with 194 strikeouts to just 43 walks in 188.0 innings. Sam Landry leads the staff in appearances (14), innings (60.1) and strikeouts (82). The perennial powerhouse Sooners are led by 31st year head coach Patty Gasso.
SERIES HISTORY
Oklahoma has dominated the series vs. Wichita State, winning 54 of the 59 all-time meetings, including 43 straight. Wichita State’s last win against the perennial powerhouse was back in 1990 when the Shockers won a doubleheader against the Sooners.
LAST MEETING VS. THE SOONERS
The two teams have already met once this season. Oklahoma downed the Shockers in Norman at its home-opening tournament, 8-1, on Feb. 23.
LAST TIME OUT
Wichita State is coming off its second conference series win of the season, taking 2-of-3 against UTSA. Wichita State run-ruled the Roadrunners in both wins, but coughed up a three-run lead in Saturday’s loss. In the opener Wichita State scored seven runs in the top of the 6th to turn a 5-2 game into a 12-2 win in 6 innings. Camryn Compton homered and drove in four runs to kickstart her red-hot weekend. Sami Hood was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. In Game 2, UTSA jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the Shockers came back to take a 7-4 lead after the top of the 4th. The Roadrunners would score a run in the fourth, fifth and two in the sixth to complete the comeback, 8-7. In the finale, Wichita State scored five in the top of the first thanks to Compton’s first of two three-run home runs on the day. Taylor Sedlacek added a two-run homer in the fifth to give the Shockers a 13-5 win in 5 innings. Compton finished the series with three home runs and 11 RBIs. She had a career-high two home runs and seven RBIs on Sunday.
FRESHIES MAKING AN IMPACT
Wichita State’s offense has received a boost in conference play from a pair of freshmen. Gabby Scott was inserted into the lineup for the North Texas series and has started every game at catcher since. In six conference games, Scott is hitting .500 (8-for-16) with two doubles, a home run, seven runs scored and seven RBIs. Brookelyn Livanec has taken a hold of the DP position since the start of conference play at Florida Atlantic. Through nine AAC games, Livanec is hitting .385 (10-for-26) with a double, four runs scored and five RBIs.
RPI – WEEK FOUR
Wichita State checked in at No. 57 in the fourth RPI rankings on March 24. The Shockers have already faced 10 teams in the Top 65, including No. 2 Texas A&M, No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 12 Florida State, No. 14 Oklahoma State, No. 28 Kentucky, No. 29 Missouri, No. 31 Florida Atlantic, No. 35 Liberty, No. 37 Nebraska, No. 40 San Diego State, No. 47 Texas State, No. 50 Grand Canyon, No. 51 North Texas (three times) and No. 63 Kansas. The Shockers still have games against No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 14 Oklahoma State, No. 39 South Florida (three times), No. 46 Charlotte (three times) and No. 63 Kansas.
WELCOME BACK
Wichita State welcomes back a pair of super seniors in Lauren Lucas and Camryn Compton after missing the entire 2024 season due to injuries. The duo have 161 combined starts between the two of them. Lucas is a two-time First Team All-Conference performer and earned Third Team All-America honors in 2023 after hitting .384 with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs and 62 RBIs. Her 62 RBIs ranked Top 10 nationally. Compton has battled injuries throughout her career at Wichita State, but her experience will be key in 2025, as she looks to end on a high note.
TOUGH SLEDDING
Wichita State has never shied away from playing a tough schedule, and that is no different in 2025. The Shockers are scheduled to play 10 teams ranked or receiving votes in the Preseason NFCA Top 25: No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 9 Florida State, No. 15 Missouri, No. 19 Nebraska. Kentucky, Texas State, Grand Canyon and Liberty all received votes.
PRESEASON TOP 100 LOVE
Lauren Lucas was named to the Softball America Preseason Top 100 list and the D1 Softball D100 Player Rankings. Lucas checked in at No. 78 on the Softball America Top 100 and No. 88 on the D100. Lucas was also named the No. 21 outfielder according to D1 Softball. Freshman pitcher Ava Sliger was named to the D1 Softball D100 Freshman Watch List on Jan. 8.
UP NEXT
Wichita State continues its homestand with a conference series against South Florida, March 28-30.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
