April 22, 2011
Final Stats
Post-Game Interview
WICHITA, Kan. -
A seventh inning three-run home run by Wichita State's Johnny Coy broke open what had been a one-run game for five-consecutive innings, as the Shockers held off Illinois State, 5-1, in Missouri Valley Conference play Friday evening at Eck Stadium in Wichita, Kan. WSU (24-17, 4-3 MVC) outhit the Redbirds 11-8, and ISU (24-11, 4-3 MVC) stranded 11 runners on base.
Corey Maines (7-1) suffered his first loss of the season, pitching 6.1 innings, striking out four and allowing all five Shocker runs on 11 hits. Wichita State's Charlie Lowell (7-4) earned the victory, going seven innings, allowing one run, and striking out nine. Josh Colon led the Redbird offense with a 3-for-3 effort and one run scored, while Preston Springer went 2-for-3 with a RBI and run scored for the Shockers.
"We had a lot of guys on base today, but we just didn't come through the way we needed to," Redbird head coach Mark Kingston said. "You've got to tip your cap to Lowell, he threw a great game. I thought we took a lot of good at-bats today, we were on base a lot and we were able to put pressure on. It just wasn't our night, but we'll be ready to go tomorrow."
Wichita State scored first, with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With Tyler Grimes on third base, Springer doubled down the left field line, driving in Grimes. Chris O'Brien scored the Shocker's other first inning-run on a groundout by Coy.
Illinois State responded with its only run of the game in the top of the second. After back-to-back singles by Josh Colon and David Fallon, Bryan Huff squeezed-home Colon from third with a bunt down the first base line.
Five scoreless innings followed, until O'Brien doubled with one out in the seventh inning, Springer walked, and Coy hit a home run over the left field wall to secure the Shocker victory.
Illinois State and Wichita State will play game two of the three-game Valley series Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.
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