<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740969036767.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;Wichita State's seventh inning rally came up two runs short as they fell to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 6-4, on Sunday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium. &nbsp; SDSU took the early lead with a RBI single in the top of the first inning, but Shocker starter&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/chloe-barber/9310" rel="smarttag" rev="9310" data-airgap-id="59">Chloe Barber</a></dfn>&nbsp;avoided disaster by leaving the bases full of Jackrabbits to minimize the threat. &nbsp; In the second, the Jacks added to their lead, scoring two runs in their half to take a 3-0 lead. &nbsp; SDSU continued their good day at the plate in the third inning, adding another two runs to jump out to a 5-0 lead. &nbsp; In the bottom half of the third, the Shockers worked the bases loaded with two outs and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/taylor-sedlacek/9318" rel="smarttag" rev="9318" data-airgap-id="60">Taylor Sedlacek</a></dfn>&nbsp;drew a walk to get WSU on the board, making it a 5-1 game, but that's all they would get. &nbsp; The Jackrabbits got the run right back in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to retake a five-run lead, but&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/ryley-nihart/9325" rel="smarttag" rev="9325" data-airgap-id="61">Ryley Nihart</a></dfn>&nbsp;struck out three Jacks in a row to end the inning. &nbsp; In the bottom of the fourth,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/jodie-epperson/9323" rel="smarttag" rev="9323" data-airgap-id="62">Jodie Epperson</a></dfn>&nbsp;recorded the Shockers' first hit, a double off the wall in left center, and later came in to score on an RBI single by&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/camryn-compton/9311" rel="smarttag" rev="9311" data-airgap-id="63">Camryn Compton</a></dfn>, making it 6-2. &nbsp; After a scoreless fifth and sixth inning, the Shockers loaded the bases with only one out, and Sedlacek broke through with an RBI single to left. Soon after,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/krystin-nelson/9315" rel="smarttag" rev="9315" data-airgap-id="64">Krystin Nelson</a></dfn>&nbsp;scampered home on a wild pitch to make it a 6-4 game. &nbsp; Unfortunately for the Shockers, that was all they could muster, as&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/sami-hood/9312" rel="smarttag" rev="9312" data-airgap-id="65">Sami Hood</a></dfn>&nbsp;flew out to center and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/catelyn-beckerley/9328" rel="smarttag" rev="9328" data-airgap-id="66">Catelyn Beckerley</a></dfn>&nbsp;fell just a few feet short of a walk-off home run, ending the game. &nbsp; Barber (2-5) suffered the loss. Nihart was excellent in relief, tossing 4.1 innings, allowing just one run on the solo homer. The freshman struck out eight and walked just one. &nbsp; Next Up The Shockers travel to Kansas City, Mo. to play the Kansas City&nbsp;Roos on March 5 at 4:00 PM at Urban Youth Academy.</div>

🥎 Shockers fall to South Dakota State