<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743217638617.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
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WICHITA, Kan. &ndash;&nbsp;Two home runs and a complete game from&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/ryley-nihart/9325" rel="smarttag" rev="9325">Ryley Nihart</a></dfn>&nbsp;lifted Wichita State to a 9-4 win over the South Florida Bulls on Friday evening at Wilkins Stadium. &nbsp; After a scoreless opening frame,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/gabby-scott/9324" rel="smarttag" rev="9324">Gabby Scott</a></dfn>&nbsp;opened the scoring for Wichita State with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning.&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/krystin-nelson/9315" rel="smarttag" rev="9315">Krystin Nelson</a></dfn>&nbsp;doubled the lead soon after with a sacrifice fly and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/ellee-eck/9322" rel="smarttag" rev="9322">Ellee Eck</a></dfn>&nbsp;ripped a double off the wall, giving the Shockers a 3-0 lead through two. &nbsp; In the fourth, the Shocker bats returned to work as&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/brookelyn-livanec/9329" rel="smarttag" rev="9329">Brookelyn Livanec</a></dfn>&nbsp;fired a ball up the middle, driving in a run and putting the Shockers up 4-0. Later in the inning,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/taylor-sedlacek/9318" rel="smarttag" rev="9318">Taylor Sedlacek</a></dfn>&nbsp;added to her power numbers with a rocket three-run shot to center field, nearly doubling the lead to 7-0.&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/camryn-compton/9311" rel="smarttag" rev="9311">Camryn Compton</a></dfn>&nbsp;followed up with an opposite-field solo homer, putting the Shockers up 8-0 through four innings. &nbsp; Facing a potential run-rule defeat, South Florida scratched a run across with a sacrifice fly, making it an 8-1 game, and went on to score two more, getting one on a steal home and another on an RBI single to cut the deficit to 8-3. &nbsp; In the Shocker fifth, Livanec got a run back for the home team with a sacrifice fly, putting the Shockers back up by six, 9-3. &nbsp; USF made it 9-4 with a two-out solo homer in the seventh, but Nihart held the Bulls off to get the final out. &nbsp; Eight Shockers recorded a hit in the game, with Eck and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/jodie-epperson/9323" rel="smarttag" rev="9323">Jodie Epperson</a></dfn>&nbsp;recording two each. &nbsp; Nihart's complete game victory came behind allowing only one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts. &nbsp; Next Up The Shockers begin game two of the series with the Bulls on Saturday at 2:00 PM at Wilkins Stadium.</div>

🥎 Shockers drop Bulls in series opener