Box Score

WICHITA, Kansas – With the series on the line, it was certainly a game with high emotions for both the University of Evansville and Wichita State, including three ejections in a benches clearing altercation in the third inning with the Aces leading by one. However, the Shockers scored seven unanswered runs in the late innings to take the victory, 9-2, as well as the series, 2-1. Evansville is now 19-14 overall and 1-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Wichita improved to 23-16 and 3-3 in the Valley.

Senior Cody Fick (5-2) took the loss on the mound, throwing seven innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits, five walks, and struck out five. Brian Flynn (3-1) earned the win, pitching through seven, allowing six hits, two runs, two walks, while striking out eight.

“Both pitchers were solid, but it comes down to us, said Head Coach Wes Carroll. “We missed some opportunities and left runners on base.”

Evansville took a 1-0 lead in the third when sophomore Chris Pearson led off the inning with a double to left center, advanced to third on freshman Jake Mahon’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on sophomore Eric Stamets’ sac fly to right field.

Senior Greg Wallace tried to keep the rally going when his fly ball to left field was dropped by Zach Stucky and Wallace attempted to reach third base on the miscue. However, the ball beat him to the base, and in an attempt to dance around the tag, Wallace took a glovefull to the face as he was tagged out by Tyler Coughenour. Benches cleared and Wallace, assistant coach Marc Wagner, and Wichita State’s head coach Gene Stephenson were all ejected from the game as a result.

With emotions back in check, the Shockers tied the score, 1-1, in the bottom of the frame. With a runner on after a one-out walk, Chris O’Brien singled to right field and Kevin Hall advanced to third on a misplay by the new right fielder Jared Baehl after Evansville had to rearrange the outfield with the loss of Wallace. Johnny Coy knocked home Hall on a two-out single to left.

The Aces took the lead again, 2-1, in the fourth when senior Ryan Oesterle singled and scored on Baehl’s double to deep centerfield. But, the Shockers answered right back with a run of their own on O’Brien’s RBI single to right that scored Coughenour, who reached on a bunt single.

Evansville had an opportunity to break the game open in the fifth with bases loaded and two outs, but the mid-nineties throwing southpaw, Flynn, shut down the Aces from there. Instead, the Shockers offense took over, scoring three in the sixth inning to take the lead for good. With one out and bases loaded after a fielder’s choice, single, and error, O’Brien plated two on a single. Runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Preston Springer followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Hall from third to take a 5-2 lead.

Sophomore Josh Biggs relieved Fick to start the eighth, but the Shockers jumped all over him from the top of the order. With two on after a leadoff single and hit batter, Springer hit a three-run home run, and Johny Coy followed with a solo homer to give Wichita an insurmountable 9-2 advantage.

Elam Cale earned the save for the Shockers, throwing a scoreless eighth and ninth.

No Evansville player recorded a multi-hit game, while O’Brien led WSU with three hits and three RBI.

“Our offense was stagnant this weekend,” said Carroll. “Whenever you have more strikeouts than hits, you’re doomed.”

The Aces are back in action Tuesday when they host Murray State at 6:00 p.m. CT.