May 6, 2006
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Coming into Saturday's baseball game with the No. 23 Wichita State Shockers, the Illinois State Redbirds were flying high after their Friday night series opener 5-3 win, just their first in 13 tries. However, the Shockers (36-16, 13-7 MVC) squashed that momentum with a five-run sixth inning, which propelled them to an 8-2 victory over the Redbirds (17-28, 7-10 MVC) Saturday at Redbird Field.
Junior Kitt Kopach (3-7) suffered the loss for ISU and had problems with his control throughout his 5.1 innings of work. His seven walks and seven hits surrendered led to all eight WSU runs. Dan Frega pitched well in relief for the Redbirds, allowing just three hits in 3.2 innings on the mound to finish out the game. WSU freshman phenom Aaron Shafer (9-1) earned the win, after allowing just two runs on nine hits while striking out seven ISU hitters.
For the second game in a row, Wichita State secured an early lead. Matt Brown's RBI groundout in the top of the first innings scored leadoff hitter Kenny Waddell and gave the Shockers a 1-0 lead after the first inning. The Shockers would follow with two runs in the top of the second inning to extend their lead to 3-0. With the bases loaded and one out, Waddell singled to left field to score Tyler Hill and bring the score to 2-0. Josh Workman followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Tyler Weber and give WSU the three-run lead after one and a half innings of play.
ISU would answer in the bottom half of the second inning, though, on a two-run single by Chris Frank that scored Jesse Griswold and Kyle O'Brien to cut the Shockers' lead to 3-2.
After scoreless fourth and fifth innings by both teams, Wichita State put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth inning. Workman started the scoring with a RBI single to right field to widen the lead to 4-2. With the bases loaded and one out, Brown added an infield single to score Noah Krol and bring the score to 5-2. Conor Gillaspie then cleared the bases with a double to right-center field to push the lead to six runs at 8-2.
That six-run lead would hold up, thanks to Shafer's pitching and Matt Smith's flawless ninth inning, and the Shockers evened the weekend series at 1-1. Ryan Anetsberger and Blake Schoonover each had two hits in the defeat for the Redbirds, while Gillaspie's three RBI led the WSU offense.
The finale of the three-game set between the two teams is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at Redbird Field. Freshman Jim Sajewich (1-5) will take the hill for the Redbirds in hope of taking the series from the Shockers.
