SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - Megan McCracken hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning and junior lefty Sloan Anderson allowed one earned run over seven innings to lead the Shockers to a 4-1 victory over Samford in the final game of Blues City Classic in Southaven, Miss.
Anderson allowed five hits and struck out four in her fourth complete game of the season to earn the victory for Wichita State (5-8).
Samford (5-6) scored the games opening run in the bottom of the first inning on Kayla Shaffer's two-out double into the gap in left centerfield scoring leadoff hitter Megan Dowdy from second base.
The early run looked to be all Samford would need through the first five innings with Anderson and Bulldog starter Mollie Hanson trading scoreless innings. Hanson kept the Shockers off balance for the better part of the game recording nine strikeouts and allowing only two hits through the first five innings.
Hanson ran into trouble when she started her third trip through the Shocker batting order. Leadoff hitter Brittany Fortner started the top of the sixth inning taking a pitch off her right shoulder for a free pass to first base. Melanie Jaegers followed with her second hit of the game, a single over the head of the third baseman to put runners on first and second with no outs. Ali Vandever grounded out to shortstop and advanced the runners to second and third bring McCracken to the plate. The sophomore from Olathe, Kan. battled Hanson, fouling off a pair of pitches with a 1-2 count. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat she turned on an inside pitch sending it over the fence in left center field for her third home run of the weekend and giving the Shockers a 3-1 lead.
After Anderson made quick work of the deflated Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth junior Erin Carney led off the seventh with a single, lacing a change-up in to centerfield. Hayley Temple advanced Carney to second with a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher and Layne Greenlee's groundout put the junior on third base with two outs. Fortner followed with a single just inside the left field line to drive in Carney for an insurance run pushing the Shocker lead to 4-1.
Anderson made sure the dramatics stopped there registering the final three outs of the game on four pitches.
Jaegers was named to the Blues City Classic All-Tournament First Team and McCracken was voted in on the Second Team.
Wichita State will travel to the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, S.C., Mar. 1-3 for their final non-conference tournament of the season. The Shockers will begin play Fri., Mar. 1 against Western Carolina at 9 a.m. (CST).
Blues City Classic All-Tournament First Team
Belmont - Kat Holingsworth
Indiana State - Ashlie Scott
Memphis - Ellen Roberts
Memphis - Lelani Bernardino
Mississippi State - Alison Owen
Mississippi State - Sam Lenahan
Nicholls State - Ashton Bennett
Samford - Mollie Hanson
UMKC - Liz Broyles
UMKC - Katie Kelley
WICHITA STATE - MELANIE JAEGERS
Blues City Classic All-Tournament Second Team
Detroit - Sara Cupp
Indiana State - Shelby Wilson
Memphis - Jordan Richwood
Mississippi State - Stephanie Becker
Nicholls State - Leah Andrus
Samford - Alex Adams
SEMO - Taylor Cowan
SIU-Edwardsville - Erin Greenwalt
UMKC - Emily Ott
WICHITA STATE - MEGAN MCCRACKEN
Wright State - Krystian DeWitt
Blues City Classic Standings
1. Memphis - 3-0
2. UMKC - 4-1
T3. Samford - 3-1
T3. Mississippi State - 3-1
T3. Nicholls State - 3-1
T6. WICHITA STATE- 2-2
T6. SIU-Edwardsville - 2-2
T8. Belmont - 1-3
T8. Indiana State - 1-3
T8. Wright State 1-3
T11. Southeast Missouri - 1-4
T11. Detroit 1-4
-WICHITA STATE-
