Wichita State Softball Schedule 2024: What To Know

The best season for Wichita State softball leads into an even more promising 2024. The Shockers head into the season aiming for another postseason.

Feb 15, 2024 by Kyle Kensing

Wichita State Softball Schedule 2024: What To Know

Wichita State has established itself as one of the banner-carrying programs for the American Athletic Conference in recent years. The Shockers look like the class of the league heading into 2024 with an experienced roster returning from last year's regular-season league title and third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Wichita State takes on a tough schedule in 2024, including non-conference dates with Oklahoma State and Nebraska, and an early-season trip to Mexico for the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.

The Shockers play on FloSoftball in the stacked event South of the Border. Before the competition begins, get to know more about Wichita State softball.

How Did Wichita State Softball Do In 2023?

Wichita State is heading into 2024 coming off its best season. The Shockers went 44-12, including a dominant 16-2 in the American.

The Shockers' regular-season American championship landed them a berth in the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season, where they scored a postseason-opening win over Nebraska.

Losses to Oklahoma State and in a rematch with Nebraska that went to extra innings ended Wichita State's Women's College World Series hopes.

Who Coaches Wichita State Softball?

Kristi Bredbenner became Wichita State head coach in 2012. Bredbenner inherited a struggling program, but after a wildly successful tenure at Emporia State, which reached the NCAA Div. II Tournament all six seasons of her tenure, it didn't take long for the Shockers to find similar success.

Wichita State reached its first NCAA Regional under Bredbenner in 2016, and has been to the postseason five times overall — including the last three straight.

Has Wichita State Ever Won The Women’s College World Series?

No, Wichita State has never won the Women's College World Series. The Shockers have yet to reach the Women's College World Series, a program milestone they are pursuing in 2024.

Notable Returning Players

Lauren Lucas, OF

All-AAC honoree and Softball America All-American Lauren Lucas is back, looking for her third standout season as a Shocker.

Lucas batted .387 in 2022 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI. In 2023, she drove in 62 runs and cut down on her strikeouts from 24 to 22. Lucas continued to bat at an outstanding .384 pace with a .621 slugging percentage and .454 on-base percentage.

Lauren Howell, RHP

Arkansas transfer Lauren Howell settled right in as one of Wichita State's top pitchers in 2023. Howell struck out 89 batters over 138 2/3 innings of work and had an ERA of 2.68.

Opposing hitters managed just a .218 batting average against Howell, who finished the campaign with an 18-4 record.

Notable Newcomers

CC Wong, INF

Grad transfer CC Wong arrives at Wichita State with plenty of collegiate experience, including contributing to an NCAA Tournament run last season at Grand Canyon. Wong hit .290 and had a .500 slugging percentage for the Antelopes in 2023.

Wong came to Grand Canyon from McLellan College, where in 2022 she was the NJCAA National Co-Player of the Year.

Sophie Johnson, C

The most highly touted of Wichita State's class of 2023 freshmen recruits, Sophie Johnson was ranked No. 48 nationally in the Extra Inning Softball Elite 100.

Last season, Johnson hit .362 and homered 12 times at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Fla.