Wichita State is ranked in the four major softball polls for the first time, including their first appearance in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll at No. 25 last week and now at No. 23.

Loyal softball fans are enjoying their team's time in the spotlight and welcoming curious fans to Wilkins Stadium. This weekend, the Shockers play USF in a four-game series beginning at 1 p.m. Friday and continuing Saturday (2 p.m. doubleheader) and Sunday (noon). Wichita State leads the American Athletic Conference race and USF is in second.

New to Shocker softball?

You need to know Wichita State leads the conference in hitting and pitching. The Shockers enter the weekend fourth nationally with 73 home runs and freshman Addison Barnard owns the Shocker record with 18 this season.

“They’re pretty salty,” said Janice Bowers, a season-ticket holder for the past three years and a former pitcher at Emporia State. “They’ve got good teamwork and they love to play. I can relate to that.”

For more on Shocker softball, click to this story on goshockers.com.