Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics
TAMPA, Fla. — Wichita State dropped the final game of the series at South Florida, 3-2, Sunday afternoon.
Wichita State (19-17, 10-8) has now lost three straight conference series' for the first time since 2015.Wichita State's offense was once again held in check other than solo home runs from Addison Barnard and Bailey Urban. Singles from CC Wong, Sami Hood, Lainee Brown and Krystin Nelson were the only other hits on the day. Through the three games, Wichita State managed just 12 total hits.
Lauren Howell (3-4) kept her team in it, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits in the start. Alison Cooper walked one and gave up one hit in 2.0 innings of relief.
After two scoreless innings Wichita State opened the scoring on Barnard's 15th home run of the season. The Bulls immediately answered with a two-out RBI single in the home half to tie the game at 1-1.
A leadoff bomb from Urban in the top of the fourth put the Shockers back in front by a run, but again it would be short lived. South Florida hit its own leadoff homer in the bottom of the fourth, tying it up at 2-2.
The Bulls grabbed their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double down the third base line. That would prove to be the game-winning run.
Wichita State opens a four-game homestand on Wednesday, April 17 vs. Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.