Nick Crist and Matt Bolt each had two hits, however the Wichita State offense cranked out 18 hits of its own and completed the three-game sweep of Illinois State, as the Shockers downed the Redbirds 9-3 at Eck Stadium Sunday afternoon in front of 3,018 people.
Taking the loss for Illinois State (12-18, 0-6) was senior Ned Schauff (3-3). The senior left-hander could not get past the third inning, as he pitched 2.0 innings and gave up nine hits and six earned runs in the game.
Picking up the win for Wichita State (27-10, 4-2) was reliever Noah Booth (3-5), who came on in the fifth and pitched four innings of four hit ball. Making the start for WSU was Travis Banwart, who pitched four innings and gave up six hits and two unearned runs.
The weather in Wichita was poor all day, however the game still started on time at 1:00 p.m. After Ryan Anetsberger grounded out to start the game, Chris Frank stood in with a 2-2 count before play was halted for one hour and four minutes with one out in the top of the first due to rain and lighting.
The Shockers got out of the first inning without yielding a run and WSU took the first lead of the game on a Brandon Hall single in the bottom of the first, giving the Shocks a 1-0 lead after one.
WSU would add three more runs in the bottom of the second as Derek Schermerhorn and Tad Reida would each have RBI singles to make it 4-0. Schermerhorns hit was his second of the day, as he extended his current hitting streak to 30 games in the first inning.
The Redbirds would respond with their best offensive inning of the weekend in the top of the fourth as they would cut the Shocker lead in half. Chris Frank continued to give the Wichita pitching staff fits, as he tripled to the right-center gap to drive in Blake Schoonover for the first run for ISU. Bolt would follow up Frank with an RBI single to make it a 4-2 Wichita State lead after the top of the third.
WSU wasted no time getting those runs back in the bottom of the third as the first three batters of the inning got hits to knock out Schauff and make it a 6-2 lead. Wichita would also add another in the fourth to go up on ISU 7-2.
The Shockers would put up two more in the eighth to take a 9-2 lead. ISU would add one in the ninth on an Anetsberger ground out to make the final 9-3.
ISU will have a full slate of games this week as they play non-conference games with Northern Illinois and Purdue on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games will begin at 6:00 p.m. from Redbird Field. The 'Birds will then resume Valley play next weekend when they host the University of Evansville for a three-game series beginning Friday night at 6:00 p.m.
