May 2, 2010
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State starting pitcher JD Learnard limited Wichita State to two hits in 5.2 scoreless innings and left with a 1-0 lead in the sixth, but the Redbirds couldn't hold off the Shockers in a 5-1 loss at Duffy Bass Field Sunday afternoon. Wichita State won the series 2-1 and inched closer to the Redbirds at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference standings.
Learnard nearly notched his second-consecutive quality start but was lifted in the top of the second after allowing the game's tying run to reach second. Ryan Copeland worked out of the jam, but the Shockers (29-16, 10-5 MVC) plated three runs in the seventh and two more in the ninth to push past Illinois State (21-18, 9-3 MVC).
Brett Kay was 3-for-3 with a walk and reached base to lead off three different innings, but Illinois State stranded 10 base runners in the game and were able to push across Kay just once on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third by Matt Mirabal. Kevin Tokarski reached base three times and was 2-for-4 in the game.
Learnard was nearly perfect the first time through the Wichita State lineup, erasing hit-by-pitch to leadoff the second frame with an inning-ending double play, but No. 9 hitter Erik Harbutz snuck a grounder inside first base for a two-out double in the third. Learnard's second hit allowed was to red-hot Preston Springer, who led off the fourth with a single. Again, Learnard erased the hit by inducing a double play.
Copeland replaced Learnard in the sixth after a sacrifice bunt by Cody Lassley moved Springer - the game's potential tying run - to second, and fanned the next two batters with the runner in scoring position to preserve the Redbirds lead.
Wichita State figured out a way to score on the Redbird pitching staff in the seventh as Bret Bascue doubled to left and scored Ryan Jones to tie the game at 1-1. Illinois State relief ace Kenny Long replaced Copeland and gave up an RBI single and the lead to pinch hitter Chris O'Brien. The Shockers added a third run later in the inning on a single by Lassley.
WSU added two more runs off Long in the ninth - both unearned - as a passed ball and throwing error extended the inning. On the offensive side, Illinois State couldn't muster a comeback against Shocker reliever Logan Hoch, who struck out three and allowed just two hits in two scoreless frames to earn his third save. WSU starter Tim Kelley struck out eight and scattered seven hits over seven innings and earned his seventh winning decision of the season.
Illinois State will get a week off from competition as the baseball student-athletes complete their final exams. The Redbirds jump right back into Missouri Valley Conference action next weekend at Missouri State (May 7-9).
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