Box Score

Wichita, Kan.- No. 15 Wichita State (8-3) came from behind to post a 6-4 victory against Washington State (10-4) in a non-conference match-up Wednesday night.

Both starting pitchers threw three scoreless innings and had allowed only one hit each until the Cougars broke through in the top of the fourth.

Jim Murphy hit a three-run blast that quickly erased Washington State's zero in the run column. John Desmarais was on board with a one-out single and Paul Gran reached on a walk before Murphy hit his seventh homerun of the year.

Washington State scratched out another run in the top of the fifth. A bunt single from Garry Kuykendall sparked a three-hit stretch and Travis Coulter brought the runner around to score with a shot through the right side. The Cougars had managed four unanswered runs and limited the Shockers to two hits through five complete innings.

The Cougars sent out lefty Steve Kost in the bottom of the sixth inning and Wichita State went to work. Kenny Williams, Jr., squeezed a hit into fair ground down the left field line that was good for a lead off double. Ryan Jones singled into shallow center field, scoring the speedy Williams. Jones advanced to second when Kuykendall misplayed the ground ball and moved to third on a passed ball. Conor Gillaspie worked a full count to draw a walk and Dusty Coleman hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field crossing Jones and moving up Gillaspie. Tyler Weber popped one just over second base for a single that brought home Gillaspie and brought Wichita State within one.

Tyler Hill reached safely on a hit that ricotched off the pitcher and Williams followed with his second double of the night, this one bouncing right over third base. Hill rounded third as head coach Gene Stephenson was waving him home, but the relayed throw beat the senior first baseman to the plate. Consecutive walks to Andy Dirks and Jones loaded the bases and Gillaspie singled through the right side to score two and extend his hitting streak to 10 games. The Shockers took their first lead, 5-4, and added one more with a sacrifice fly by Coleman.

The Shockers allowed only one Cougar base runner in the last two innings to cement the win.

Wichita State starter Tim Kelley allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Tyler Fleming (2-0) earned the win, pitching 4,2 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and walking one with two strikeouts.

Ross Humes went five innings for Washington State, allowing two hits and no runs, striking out three without issuing a walk. Matt Way suffered the loss and fell to 0-1 on the season. Way closed the last two innings and gave up three earned runs on four hits.

Williams went 2-for-3 on two doubles and scored two runs. Gillaspie finished at 1-for-3 with one run and two RBI. Coleman was hitless but picked up two RBI with two sacrifice fly balls.

Wichita State will begin a three-game home series with TCU Friday night at 7 p.m.

-Wichita State-