WICHITA, Kan.—Wichita State junior right-hander Tim Kelley limited the University of Evansville Purple Aces to just two runs on six hits in a complete-game effort on Wednesday, and the Shockers scored all of the offense it would need in the first two innings, as the Shockers posted a 9-2 victory over UE in the second round of the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Wichita, Kansas.

 

The Shockers would stake Kelley to a 2-0 lead even before he took the mound, as Wichita State scored two runs in the top of the first inning off of UE starter Seth McCabe (4-3) on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and a run-scoring double-play ball. 

 

Evansville would answer back with a run of its own in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI ground out by junior infielder Cody Fick to cut the lead to 2-1, but the Shockers would plate two more runs in the second inning to push the lead to 4-1. UE would get no closer the rest of the way as the Purple Aces fell into a Thursday afternoon elimination game against Missouri State at 12:30 p.m.

 

“Credit Tim Kelley, he really had us off-balance all night long,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “He got into a groove very early on and we really had no answer. He showed why he was a first team all-MVC selection tonight.

 

“Now, we really need to dig down deep and be ready to battle for our lives tomorrow. Our backs are now against the wall, but I expect this team to come to the park ready to battle. They have shown great character all season long, and I would expect nothing less tomorrow afternoon.”

 

Kelley (11-2) held Evansville to single runs in the first and sixth innings on RBI produced by Fick, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead UE. He scattered the two runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out 10. McCabe suffered the loss by yielding four runs on four hits and two walks in 2.0 innings of work. 

 

Fick was the lone Purple Ace to record a multi-hit game, as he is now 5-for-9 with six RBI in the State Farm MVC Tournament. Four different Shockers produced two-hit games, led by freshman first baseman Johnny Coy, who went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI.

 

With the victory, Wichita State improves to 40-18 overall on the 2010 season. Evansville, meanwhile, slips to 31-26 overall with the loss. The Purple Aces will now battle Missouri State in an elimination game on Thursday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. Should UE win, the Purple Aces would then battle Wichita State again on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. to stay alive in the tournament. Every UE game in the tournament can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.