Box Score

PEORIA, Ill.-  No. 10 Wichita State (23-5, 4-0) shutout the Bradley Braves (11-9, 0-1), 3-0, in game one of a three-game MVC series, Friday evening in Peoria, Ill. 

 

With two outs, Dan Brewer tripled in the bottom of the first for the Braves, but Shocker starter Travis Banwart struck out Ryan Curry to end the threat.

 

Banwart ended with 10 strikeouts in 7.1 scoreless innings, scattering four hits and four walks. The junior right-hander picked up the win to move to 6-2 on the season.

 

The Shockers got on the board in the second with a sacrifice fly from Tyler Hill after consecutive singles by Conor Gillaspie and Andy Dirks started the inning.

 

Wichita State continued to pound the ball, but right at Bradley's fielders, as the Shockers went down in order in the next four innings.

 

Freshman Dusty Coleman had the Shockers' first extra-base hit in the seventh inning to extend WSU's lead to three. Gillaspie drew a walk, Dirks singled to third base, and then the Bradley fielder threw the ball away, allowing runners to move to second and third. With two outs, Hill was intentionally walked to load the bases for Coleman's double to left field that plated the two lead runners.

 

Noah Booth came in for Banwart at the top of the eighth and allowed two hits, but forced a double play to get out of trouble. After walking the lead-off batter in the ninth, Booth was relieved by Noah Krol. The senior faced three batters and struck out one to close the door.

 

The Shockers reached second in both the eighth and ninth innings, but didn't manage any extra runs.

 

Damon Sublett and Dirks led the Shockers, going 2-for-4. Hill contributed the first RBI, while Coleman picked up the other two.

 

Brewer was the only Brave to manage a multiple-hit game, ending at 2-for-4 on the night.

 

Bradley starter Michael Christl fell to 1-3, allowing three earned runs in 6.1 innings on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Chris Wright and Jon Goebel combined for the remaining 2.2 shutout innings, giving up three hits and two walks, with one strikeout each.

 

The series continues tomorrow, with the Shockers taking on the Braves at 2 p.m. on Saturday, before wrapping up Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

-Wichita State-