Wichita State needed a few more meetings than usual early in Saturday's game. Coach Kristi Bredbenner reminded them to bring energy down two runs and remain confident.
"We kind of let them have the momentum and we let them lead with the energy," said third baseman Ryleigh Buck. "We're normally the loudest. We were a little timid."
Home runs changed that feeling, which has been the story much of the softball season for the 24th-ranked Shockers. They defeated third-seeded UCF 7-4 in the title game of American Athletic Conference Championship at Tulsa's Collins Family Softball Complex.