The Illinois State defense committed a season high nine errors and gave up 10 unearned runs as they fell 15-1 to Wichita State Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium in Wichita, Kan. The game was ended in the seventh inning due to the Missouri Valley Conference 10-run rule.
Taking the loss for Illinois State was sophomore Dan Frega (2-6). The right-hander lasted four innings and gave up seven hits and four earned runs in the loss.
Picking up the win for Wichita State was the reigning Valley Pitcher of the Week Jereme Foster (4-1). Foster pitched six innings and gave up seven hits and one earned run in the outing.
Illinois State (12-17, 0-5) got off to a great start in the first as Ryan Anetsbergers leadoff single was followed by a double from two-hole hitter Chris Frank to put runners on second and third with no outs. Matt Bolt would stride to the plate next and ground out to second to bring in Anetsberger and give ISU a 1-0 lead. Frank would then get picked off at third and Jay Molina would strikeout to end the inning.
Wichita State (26-10, 3-2) would tie the game up in the bottom of the first with the help of two Redbird errors. Nick McCoola would reach on a fielders choice and would advance all the way to third on an error on a pickoff attempt by Frega. With two outs, Quin Vinze would hit a grounder to third baseman Blake Schoonover that should have ended the inning. However Schoonovers throw would sail over the head of first baseman Kyle OBrien, allowing McCoola to score to tie the game at one after the first.
McCoola would give the Shockers their first lead of the game in the third as he would beat out a two-out infield single to drive in Blake Hurlbutt from third, making it a 2-1 WSU lead.
ISU would commit its third error of the game to start the bottom of the fourth, and the Shockers would quickly capitalize, as they would string together four consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly to take a 6-1 lead after four innings of play.
Defensive miscues would continue to plague the 'Birds in the fifth as they would commit four errors in the inning, leading to three Shocker runs and a 9-1 Wichita lead. WSU only had one hit in the inning.
Two more errors in the bottom of the sixth inning would contribute to another big inning for the Shockers. WSU had two singles and two doubles in the inning, to go along with a two-run homerun by Joe Muich, giving WSU the final score of 15-1.
ISU and Wichita State will finish their three-game Missouri Valley Conference series Sunday as Ned Schauff (3-2) will make the start for the 'Birds. He will be opposed by Wichita's Travis Banwart (2-0), as first pitch will be at 1:00 p.m. from Eck Stadium in Wichita.
