WATERLOO, Iowa- Wichita State (41-13, 17-4) used a three-run seventh inning to take its first lead of the game and the Shockers would hang on for a 6-4 win over Northern Iowa (19-23, 5-13), taking the series two games to one.
Tyler Weber led off the seventh with a single to left field, but then the Panthers quickly retired two with a fly out and ground out. The Shockers, down 4-2, then managed three consecutive singles that brought in two runs. Andy Dirks placed one in shallow left field to drive in Weber, and continued to second on a stolen base. Damon Sublett hit an infield single and Conor Gillaspie took his first pitch down the left field line, crossing Dirks to tie it up at four. Brown hopped one off of shortstop Brandon Douglas and it traveled into center field allowing the junior to reach on the error and the go-ahead run to score. A walk to Derek Schermerhorn loaded the bases before a fielder's choice from Josh Workman ended the inning.
The Shockers added one in the top of the seventh when Sublett singled in Bret Bascue, who drew a walk and stole second.
Back-to-back singles by Deric Manrique and Eric Hoffman started the game for Northern Iowa. Bandon Douglas grounded into a double play, but it was enough action combined with Manrique's speed to allow the runner to score from second.
Brown provided most of the offense for the Shockers, going 3-for-3 through the first six innings. The only other hit by WSU to that point came from Sublett, which resulted in a run that evened the score after the first. Sublett lined one down the left field line, advanced to second on a ground ball from Gillaspie and came home on a single up the middle from Brown.
Brown and Sublett each ended 3-for-4, as Sublett scored twice and contributed an RBI. Brown reached base on every attempt, adding one run on one RBI with a walk.
UNI's Jeremy Weih hit a homerun to left field before WSU starter Anthony Capra forced three consecutive ground outs.
In the fourth, Brown's single, a line drive to right field, would come around to score as Brown moved up each time via a balk, passed ball and wild pitch, again knotting it at two apiece.
The Panthers opened the score, 4-2, by adding a run in the fourth and sixth innings. Dane Embury hit a lead-off double that was followed by a walk to Jamie Ballesteros. Nick Cameron bounced a single in front of Brown and the right fielder fired it home, catching Embury for an out. Bret Featherston sent one to the wall in right field for a long single that plated Ballesteros, but Travis Hendrix grounded into a double play to limit the damage
Ballesteros hit a homerun to straight-away center field off of reliever Andy Womack in the sixth inning.
Booth took over on the mound and shut down the Panthers for the last three innings, scattering two hits and a walk to keep the score at 6-4.
Womack earned the win in 2.2 innings of relief. The senior improved to 2-0 on the season, allowing one earned run on one hit and striking out two. Capra lasted 3.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits. Booth picked up his fourth save of the year with three scoreless innings.
Wichita State finishes up the regular season with a nine game home stretch. A two game series with South Alabama starts Tuesday at 7 p.m. A weekend series with Cal State Fullerton will be followed with a single game against Oklahoma State next Tuesday. The Shockers host Illinois State to wrap up Valley play and the regular season.
-Wichita State-
