Box Score (HTML)
Box Score (PDF)

WICHITA, Kan.—An early offensive outburst by the Wichita State Shockers proved to be too much to overcome for the University of Evansville baseball team on Friday night, as the Shockers posted a 6-2 victory in the series opener of a three-game Missouri Valley Conference set at Eck Stadium, home of Tyler Field in Wichita, Kansas.

The Shockers would plate three runs in the second, highlighted by a solo home run by freshman designated hitter Chris O’Brien, and two runs in the third inning to grab an early 5-0 lead. Evansville would answer back with two runs of its own on a two-run single by rookie second baseman Trentt Copeland, but that would be as close as UE would come in dropping the series opener.

“I thought we had some chances in the fourth and fifth innings to get back into the game, but we just couldn’t get that one base hit with runners on base to make that happen,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “Trentt Copeland was able to come through with that two-run base hit in the fourth, but we needed someone else to come through as well.

“I thought Wade Kapteyn did a nice job tonight, especially after about the fifth inning, but Wichita State was able to take advantage early and build a nice cushion. And, on Friday night in the MVC, it is pretty tough to overcome an early five-run deficit, especially against a good pitcher like Tim Kelley.

“This is just one game though. We have a chance to come to the park tomorrow and still win the series. We need to come together and make some adjustments, but we will be ready to battle tomorrow in the doubleheader.”

O’Brien’s solo home run to right field opened a three-run frame in the second inning, which was capped by RBI ground outs by third baseman Taylor Brown and outfielder Mitch Caster for Wichita State. The Shockers would then take advantage of a UE error and a double-steal to push the advantage to 5-0 in the third inning.

Evansville would then take advantage of two Wichita State errors in the fourth inning to trim the deficit to 5-2, as Copeland delivered a two-out, two-run single to center field. The Aces would load the bases in the frame, but Kelley would induce an inning-ending ground out to end the threat.

The Shockers would tack on another run in the fourth inning to move the lead to 6-2, and Kelley (3-2) and reliever Chance Sossamon would make the four-run cushion stand up by limiting Evansville to just five base hits and three walks, while combining to strike out 12.

UE junior Wade Kapteyn (2-5) suffered the loss, despite tossing a complete-game effort. Kapteyn yielded six runs (five earned) on nine base hits with two strikeouts. Copeland provided the UE offense with the two-run single, while sophomore outfielder Greg Wallace also went 2-for-4.

With the victory, Wichita State improves to 19-12 overall and 4-1 in the MVC. Evansville, meanwhile, drops to 13-17 overall and 3-7 in the Valley. Due to a 70 percent chance of rain on Sunday, the two teams will now play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon beginning at 2:00 p.m. to conclude the series. Saturday’s twinbill can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.