By: Wichita State
Box Score MALIBU, Calif.- No. 11 Wichita State (0-1) dropped the first game of the season, 2-0, at No. 18 Pepperdine (6-2) Friday evening. The Shockers are now 22-8 in Gene Stephenson's career in season openers. The last time WSU lost a season opener was in 1999, a 2-3 loss at Hawaii-Hilo.
Junior Damon Sublett and senior Derek Schermerhorn led the Shockers, going 2-for-4 with two singles each. Sophomore starter Aaron Shafer (0-1) recorded the loss after working 5.1 innings, giving up one earned run, scattering four hits and striking out three.
Sublett hit a hard shot to centerfield on a full count with two outs in the top of the first, but was left stranded when Conor Gillaspie ended the inning with a fly ball in foul territory. Schermerhorn led off the second inning with a single up the middle. Matt Brown followed with a hit through the right side and a stolen base put runners at second and third. However, Shockers could not capitalize, going down in order to end the threat.
Shafer dominated early, retiring nine consecutive Wave batters over the first three innings. Adrian Ortiz was the first base runner for Pepperdine after a line drive to second base. Wichita State's Sublett knocked the shot down, but Ortiz's speed beat the throw to first. Luke Salas hit another screamer toward Sublett who speared it for the first out. Danny Worth was hit by a pitch, putting two on board, but the runners were stranded on an infield fly and strike out.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Worth singled to left field before Shafer was relieved by Anthony Capra. The bases were loaded on consecutive singles by Eric Thames and Chase d'Arnaud. Donald Brown hit a fly ball to right field that bounced off the glove of Matt Brown, allowing the batter to reach safely and two runs to score. Capra gave up one more hit before senior Noah Booth came in and sat down the next two batters to end the inning.
Wichita State had runners in scoring position in three of the last four innings, but could not string enough hits together to push the runs across the plate.
Jared Simon held off the Waves in the bottom of the eighth, facing four batters and striking out two.
The Shockers will take on the Waves at 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast live on KNSS 1330 AM with Shane Dennis and Terry Elliot calling the action.
Pepperdine now leads the series between the two teams 2-1.
The Shockers open the 2007 season with 11-straight games on the road. It is the longest roadtrip to start a season since the 1980 team went on the road for the first 14 games. The 11-game roadtrip ranks third all-time at WSU behind the 1980 team and the 1978 team which played its first 17 games away from Wichita.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Sat. ? Travis Banwart (RHP, Jr., 0-0, 0.00) vs. Brett Hunter (RHP, So., 1-1, 2.70)
Sun. ? Rob Musgrave (LHP, Jr., 0-0, 0.00) vs. Robert Dickmann (LHP, So., 0-0, 10.57)
