WICHITA, Kan. - Excitement and uncertainty abound for the Wichita State softball program as they prepare for their first action of the 2012-13 season on Sat., Sept. 29 at C. Howard Wilkins Stadium. The Shockers will play a pair of games beginning with a 2 p.m. first pitch against Pittsburg State and a 6 p.m. contest against Johnson County Community College.

The excitement and uncertainty blend together in the case of a host of new faces that will see their first action in a Shocker uniform this Saturday. Along with three freshmen (Brittany Fortner, Paige Mason, and Hunter Stohlmeyer) the Shockers have welcomed five transfers: Molly Baker (NW Missouri St.), Kacie Eich (Butler County), Abby Furstenburg (Butler County), Megan McCracken (Kent State) and Ali Vandever (Oklahoma). Each transfer brings a different degree of collegiate experience to what is still a very young Wichita State team in head coach Kristi Bredbenner's second season. Vandever in particular brings a wealth of experience having participated in the past two Women's College World Series as a member of the Oklahoma Sooners, including a runner-up finish in 2012.

As the new faces find their roles on the team, the returning players will also be looking to fill new roles and positions throughout the fall season as Bredbenner looks to find the most competitive lineup she can heading into the spring season. The Shockers return five of their top seven hitters from 2012 and having spent a full offseason working with the coaching staff, optimism for significant improvement is very high.

Going into the weekend games against Pittsburg State and Johnson County, Bredbenner will look to experiment with different lineup combinations. "Everybody's going to get to play. Everybody's going to get an opportunity.  We want to see what everybody can do."

Saturday Schedule

12 p.m. - Pittsburg State vs. McPherson

2 p.m. - Pittsburg State vs. Wichita State

4 p.m. - McPherson vs. Johnson County

6 p.m. - Johnson County vs. Wichita State

- WICHITA STATE -