Box Score

WICHITA, Kan.- No. 12 Wichita State (43-17) got five shutout innngs from starter Max Hutson, but No. 10 Oklahoma State (38-13) came back in late innings to defeat the Shockers, 3-1.

The Shockers scored their sole run in the bottom of the third. With one out, Andy Dirks scorched one down the left field line and stole third as Derek Schermerhorn drew ball four. Damon Sublett singled through the right side, driving in Dirks to give WSU a 1-0 lead.

Hutson held the Cowboys scoreless through five innings of work and scattered six hits and two walks while striking out five.

Andy Womack struck out the side in the top of the sixth after relieving Hutson, who gave up a lead-off single. Womack came back struggling in the seventh, giving up a walk and a single to the first two batters. Noah Booth took over on the mound, striking out his first two, but giving up a double to the right-center gap, allowing two runs to score.

The Cowboys added an insurance run in the eighth after a lead-off walk to Matt Mangini. Jordy Mercer singled and Ryan Flavell bunted for a hit and collected an RBI.

Noah Krol struck out four and gave up two hits in the last two innings, but the damage had already been done, as Wichita State only managed one hit after the third inning.

Womack (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season, tagged with two earned runs on one hit, one walk and three strikeouts.

Reliever Tyler Blanford (2-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts. Mercer earned his second save of the year, taking over in the eighth and striking out three of the six batters he faced.

Wichita State is back in action for its final conference series of the season before heading to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Shockers take on Illinois State Thursday and Friday night at 7 p.m. and wrap up the homestand with a 2 p.m. Saturday game.

-Wichita State-