By: Wichita State
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- Wichita State (49-19) fell to Creighton (44-14) in 12 innings by a score of 10-9 in the championship match of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Shockers forced a second game on championship day by defeating Creighton, 2-1, earlier today at Hammons Field.
Wichita State came back from a five-run deficit to send the game into extra innings. Creighton strung together four singles in the third to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Shockers got one back in the top of the sixth as a single by Andy Dirks was brought around with a stolen base and Derek Shermerhorn hit. A sacrifice fly by Matt Brown crossed the run, but Creighton opened up the score in the bottom half of the frame.
A one-out single by Darin Ruf was driven in by a double lined over the third base bag by Steve Winkelmann. A walk put two on and Chad Ogden greeted reliever Noah Booth with a three-run homerun that extended Creighton's lead to 6-1.
WSU would rally in the eighth inning to post four runs and come within one. Back-to-back singles from Schermerhorn and Brown led off the inning and a standup double to left-center field from Conor Gillaspie plated the runners. Tyler Hill hit an RBI single through the right side and Danny Jackson crossed the fourth run with a sacrifice fly.
A lead-off double to left field by Dirks started Wichita State's last chance in the top of the ninth. The runner moved up on a grounder by Schermerhorn and a sacrifice to center field by Brown tied the game at six.
Jared Simon took over on the mound in the bottom of the eighth and retired six batters consecutively to hold Creighton even with the Shockers.
As the night slowly crawled to early Sunday morning, Tyler Weber started the eleventh with a line drive to left field. Noah Krol laid down a bunt in order to advance pinch runner Cody Lassley but was able to reach safely as CU's pitcher had trouble fielding the ball on the slippery surface. Dirks gave Wichita State its first lead of the night as the junior took one to the gap in right-center field for a two-RBI double. Dirks motored to third on a stolen base which allowed him to score on a ground ball to second base from Brown.
Creighton managed three unearned runs off of Noah Krol to knot the game back at nine runs each. Krol had two outs via strikeouts, but an error by the shortstop extended the inning. Back-to-back doubles made the mishap costly as it was enough to cross three runs and continue the marathon.
The Shockers went down quietly in order in the top of the twelfth.
Khol Nanney issued a lead-off walk to T.J. Roemmich that came around on a sacrifice bunt and double to center field by Michael Lam.
Casey Schmidt (4-1) earned the win with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Nanney fell to 1-1 with one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- Wichita State (49-18) forces a second game on championship day by defeating Creighton (43-14), 2-1, earlier today at Hammons Field.
Aaron Shafer, making his first start since April 21, sat down the first eight batters before getting into slight trouble in the third. With two outs, Michael Lam legged out an infield single and Robbie Knight hit one into the gap in right-center. A walk to Ross Sinclair loaded the bases, but a fielder's choice by Chris Gradoville forced out Knight at third to get the Shockers out of the jam. After he issued his sole walk, Shafer retired his last seven batters consecutively.
Shafer held the Bluejays scoreless for five innings, giving up two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
“It was great to get back out there and contribute to the team,” said Shafer. “I felt good and strong. I didn't try to over-power anything.”
Derek Schermerhorn doubled into the left-center gap and came around as Matt Brown's single rolled into the outfield after bouncing off of the second baseman.
Tyler Weber got his first hit of the tournament with a solo homerun in the fifth. The junior catcher took one over the left-center field fence to pick up his 10th of the season, making the score 2-0.
“I don't know what I've been swinging at all weekend,” said Weber. “I just got up on the plate, stayed back on a change-up and was able to take it out.”
The Blue Jays struck back in the sixth when Darin Ruf took an Andy Womack slider over the left field fence, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Noah Krol closed up the top of the ninth, but not before it got exciting. Gradoville led off with a double placed perfectly out of reach of Brown's outstretched arm down the right field line. Krol then forced a grounder from Ruf and got Andrew Small on strikes before giving up an infield single to Steve Winkelmann. Winkelmann sent second baseman Josh Workman diving to his right to stop the ball and save a run. The defense wrapped up the game with a groundout to third base.
Wichita State and Creighton face off for the championship tonight at 7:07 p.m.
-Wichita State-
