HONOLULU, Hawaii- Junior Rob Musgrave had a no-hitter going into the eighth inning and the Shocker offense was hot with 11 hits, trampling Hawaii, 7-1, Friday night in the first of a three-game series in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Shockers (6-2) are now undefeated since dropping the first two games of the season, while Hawaii falls to 9-4.
Musgrave (2-0) controlled the game from the mound, allowing one earned run on one hit and collecting five strike outs while issuing only one walk in 7.2 innings of play. Jared Simon closed the door on the final 1.1 innings, giving up one hit and striking out one.
Senior Derek Schermerhorn led the charge at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. Conor Gillaspie and Matt Brown had multiple-hit games with two singles a piece, with Brown scoring one and Gillaspie driving one in.
Both teams remained scoreless through four innings, but Wichita State took advantage of Hawaii blunders to post a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth. Brown poked one through the left side to reach on a lead-off single and Blake Hurlbutt got on board with a walk. Tyler Weber shot one at the third baseman and the ball hit off the fielder, getting lost in foul territory, allowing both runners to cross home.
Schermerhorn fired a pitch back up the middle for a single in the sixth. Damon Sublett advanced the runner on a ground out and Gillaspie found the hole in the right side to plate another run.
The Shockers weren't done yet, adding three runs in the seventh to take a commanding lead, 6-0. Hurlbutt singled to shallow left field and Weber laid down a solid sacrifice bunt down the third base side, advancing the runner to scoring position. Andy Dirks reached safely for the first time with a single to right-center that drove in Hurlbutt. Schermerhorn then powered one over the left field fence for a 415+ foot two-run home run.
Sublett tacked one more on in the top of the ninth, driving Dirks who drew a walk and was moved up by a Schermerhorn single.
The ?Bows struggled with Musgrave the entire night, not reaching base until the seventh inning with two out, and even then on a Shocker error. The Carbondale, Kan. native retired the first 20 batters out of a total 26 faced.
Hawaii finally broke the zeros on the scoreboard with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. The ?Bows gained their second base runner in the game on a walk to Evan Zimny. Landon Hernandez connected, sending one into the right-center field gap, for Hawaii's first hit and only run of the night. Simon relieved Musgrave, who was greeted with a standing auvation upon departure. Simon gave up a hit to pinch hitter Derek DuPree before sitting down the last four consecutive hitters.
Wichita State is back in action Saturday night for the second game of the series at 10:35 CST. The game can be heard on KNSS 1330 or www.shockerradio.com with Shane Dennis and Terrie Elliot calling the action.
Probable Pitching Match-Ups
Saturday- Aaron Shafer (1-1, 1.74) vs. Mark Rodrigues (4-0, 1.46)
Sunday- Travis Banwart (1-1, 5.62) vs. Josh Schneider (1-0, 0.50)
