Who better to take the first swing in a softball program’s new indoor practice facility than the career and single-season record holder in hits, batting average, runs scored, and total bases?

That’s why Wichita State called on the greatest hitter in program history, Sydney McKinney, to officially open the facility where the next Shocker superstars will develop and train.

Right beside Wilkins Stadium now stands a 14,400-square-foot practice facility that features a full indoor infield and batting cages. It’s the renovations to the house that McKinney helped build.

She was a five-year letter winner for the Shockers and helped guide the team to back-to-back at-large invitations to the NCAA Tournaments in 2022 and 2023. She’s a two-time American Conference Player of the Year and All-American.

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It is part of a $7.3 million renovation of Wilkins Stadium, home of Shocker Softball. The renovations include a 12,471 square-foot team complex, an enclosed concourse with a grand front entrance, berm outfield seating, a new scoreboard with videoboard, and expanded seating areas.

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Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Twitter @savannaecollins.