Shockers Close Out Regular Season with 4-2 Win at Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Behind a three-hit day from Ellee Eck and a complete game in the circle from Ryley Nihart, Wichita State clinched the series and the regular season finale at Memphis Sunday afternoon, 4-2.

Wichita State (28-24-1, 15-11-1) will be the No. 5 seed in next week’s American Athletic Conference Championship. They will face the winner of No. 8 Tulsa and No. 9 UTSA on Wednesday, May 7 in Tampa.

After going hitless over the first two games of the series, Eck bounced back with a 3-for-4 day that included a double and two RBIs. Her double was the lone extra base hit of the game for the Shockers. Lauren Lucas, Taylor Sedlacek, Brookelyn Livanec, Sami Hood and Krystin Nelson all recorded a single apiece.

Ryley Nihart (10-7) picked up her 10th win of the season, tossing a complete game in the process. She allowed two runs on three hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

Neither team found the run column through the first four innings until the top of the fifth when Wichita State broke up the shutout with a trio of runs. The ball never left the infield during the frame, as the Shockers used the small ball to score all three runs.

Nihart carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth and had retired eight straight Tigers until a leadoff double broke it up. That leadoff double would turn into a run two batters later on an RBI fielder’s choice. Another double cut the Shockers’ lead to 3-2.

Eck missed a home run by an inch in the top of the sixth, as it bounced off the top of the wall and stayed in the park for an RBI double, pushing the margin to 4-2.

Up Next

Wichita State heads to Tampa, Fla., for the 2025 American Athletic Conference Championship, May 7-10.