WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita State Shockers won 4-3 in eight innings over the Drake Bulldogs in a back-and-forth contest as the Shockers salvaged a game in the Missouri Valley Conference softball series on Sunday (March 29) at Wilkins Stadium.

Drake's five-game winning streak was snapped with the loss as it falls to 16-12 and 7-2 in the MVC. Wichita State improved to 17-18 and 2-7 in the MVC with the win.

The Shockers capitalized on a throwing error by senior pitcher Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.) on a ball hit back to her by Ashley Johnson to start the eighth inning. Johnson was able to advance all the way to second base off the error. She then moved over to third base on a sacrifice by Kelli Spring. The Bulldogs then intentionally walked Cacy Williams and Brittany Fortner to load the bases with one out. Drake was denied its second MVC sweep of the year as the next batter, Liz Broyles, lined the winning hit to right field to complete the rally.

Broyles had a RBI double in the first inning and later a RBI single in the third as Wichita State led 3-0 after three.

Drake quickly took the lead in the next inning as senior Laura Brewer (Waukee, Iowa) reached on an error to start the frame and senior Hayley Nybo (Minnetonka, Minn.) followed with her team-leading seventh home run. The power show wasn't finished as Schmidt followed Nybo with a blast of her own as the Bulldogs went up 3-2 after four innings of play.

Broyles though answered again for Wichita State as she tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth inning with another RBI single, this one coming off Drake freshman Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.). Broyles finished the game 5-for-5 with all four RBI for the Shockers.

Nybo paced Drake at the plate going 2-for-4. Freshmen Tasha Alexander (Eddyville, Iowa) and Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) along with Schmidt each added one hit for the Bulldogs.

Schmidt took the loss as her record drops to 8-8. She pitched 4.2 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits along with two walks and two strikeouts. Newman tossed 3.0 innings and allowed one run on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

Drake hosts in-state rival, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m. The Bulldogs return to MVC play on Friday, April 3 when they welcome the Loyola Ramblers to Ron Buel Field for a doubleheader, starting at 2 p.m.