Junior centerfielder Kevin ODell was 3-of-6 at the plate with two runs, a two-run homer and three RBI in two games against No.10 Wichita State, but the Shockers were too much for the Redbirds as Illinois State fell 11-4 and 8-3 in two games at Redbird Field, Friday, evening.
WSU (38-11, 20-6) and Illinois State (20-26, 10-14) will continue its four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Redbird Field. Due to the threat of severe weather, the teams will try and wrap-up the series tomorrow.
In the nightcap, with Wichita State up by one run, Jon Peacock smacked a sac fly in the bottom of the first inning to center field to drive home Kevin ODell who reached on a walk and advanced on a sac bunt by Brad Bouris.
Five runs on four hits in the second inning gave the Shockers a 6-1 lead after two innings of play. In the Birds second inning, a double by Greg Blaesing and single by ODell scored a second Redbird run.
Wichita State scored two more runs in the seventh on a sac fly by Ryan Owen while the Redbirds added one. Howie Frank (3-5) took the loss for the Birds, allowing six earned runs before Todd Stein replaced him in the second inning. Stein allowed seven hits and two runs.
In game one, eight runs on seven hits in the sixth inning for Wichita State was enough to put them ahead for good. Three singles and a Redbird error in the top of the first gave the Shockers an early 2-0 lead.
The Redbirds were held hitless until the bottom of the third inning, when ODell and Ryan Cantrell hit back-to-back, two-out singles to reach base but Bouris struck out swinging to end the inning.
A two-out, two-run homer by ODell, the second of his career, tied the score as the Redbirds broke a two-run, WSU lead in the bottom of the fifth.
In the sixth, two solo home runs by Logan Sorensen and Randy Walter put the Shockers back on top, 4-2 before a two-run long ball by Ryan Owen in the same inning game WSU a 6-2 lead.
A single, stolen base and RBI single by Brandon Green capped off the eight-run inning for the Shockers, who took a commanding 10-2 lead.
In the seventh, Wichita State scored another run after a double by Travis Welch and RBI single by Dustin Hawkins. The Redbirds also scored two runs in the seventh but the Shockers held on for the 11-4 win.
Kyle Zaleski got the loss on the mound in the first game of the doubleheader. In 5.1 innings pitched, the sophomore allowed 12 hits, eight runs while striking out two. John Tetuan, who remains undefeated on the year with an 8-0 record, got the win for Wichita State.
The differences was starting pitching in my mind, head coach Jeff Stewart said. You are not going to win many games when you remove your starting pitcher in the second inning. Also, the difference in both games was a big inning for Wichita.
They earned their runs, Stewart continued. We stayed pretty consistent on defense throughout the two games.
Illinois State will play two games tomorrow starting at 1 p.m. The doubleheader is being played because of a threat of severe weather for Sunday. Two nine-inning games are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
