Box Score

WICHITA, Kan.- In the battle of the MVC's top teams, Creighton (19-9, 6-1) defeated Wichita State (24-8, 5-2) 3-2, in come-from-behind fashion, in the top of the ninth inning to take control of the conference.

 

Shocker starter Travis Banwart had a shut-out going through eight innings. The junior ended with seven strikeouts, allowing one earned run on five hits and two walks. Krol (0-1) got the loss, facing six batters and giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits.

 

Creighton had only managed five hits before the ninth, but strung together three consecutive singles to make a lead-off walk and Shocker error costly. Robbie Knight drew the base on balls from Banwart and advanced on a wild pitch from Krol. A strikeout gave the Shockers one out, but an error by second baseman Damon Sublett placed runners at the corners. A single up the middle by Darin Ruf plated the first Bluejay run and a perfectly placed base hit to shortstop from Andrew Small loaded the bases.

 

Steve Winkelmann followed with the game-winning hit, a single through the left side that scored the tying and go-ahead runs. Winkelmann, caught in the moment, thought the game was over and ran towards home, celebrating. The junior was called out for running outside the base path and Andy Masten grounded out to end the damage.  

 

Reliever Scott Reese (0-1) earned the win, entering in the top of the eighth and going 1.1 innings. The left-handed senior faced four batters and allowed one hit. Starter Marc Lewis went seven complete innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits and struck out six. Andy Masten faced two batters to close the ninth.

 

Matt Brown led off the Shocker fourth with a base hit that sent Creighton shortstop Ryan Urzendowski diving to the turf. Urzendowski came up with the ball, but the throw was not in time. The wind knocked down what would have been a homerun, as Danny Jackson flew out to center field. The hit was deep enough, however, to advance Brown to second. Conor Gillaspie grounded out before the Shockers once again used speed to their advantage. Andy Dirks bounced one to the right side and beat out CU pitcher Lewis, trying to cover first. The base hit allowed Brown to score from second.

 

Wichita State took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth after back-to-back singles from Danny Jackson and Gillaspie. Dirks collected his second RBI of the night with a fielder's choice that allowed Jackson to cross home.

 

Dirks drove in both runs for the Shockers, but freshman Dusty Coleman led the team, going 2-for-3. Jackson and Gillaspie went 2-for-4 with Jackson scoring one run.

 

Winkelmann was the only Bluejay with a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.

 

The two teams meet again Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

-Wichita State-