Box Score

Normal, Ill.- Wichita State improved to 14-3 in the season and 3-0 in the MVC with a 7-2 win over Illinois State, completing the three-game sweep.

Four Shocker pitchers combined for a season-high 18 strikeouts and the offense provided 13 hits as WSU took all three games during the opening conference weekend.

Starter Anthony Capra led the campaign with 12 strikeouts. Grant Muncrief and Logan Hoch each added one, and Andy Womack contributed four strikeouts.
Capra (3-0) threw a hitless six innings, allowing three walks and no runs. The Redbirds got their first two hits off of Muncrief and also tagged him for two runs, although only one was earned. Womack gave up one hit and one walk in 1.2 innings, and Hoch faced four batters to close out the ninth.

Ryan Jones and Conor Gillaspie each pounded out three hits. Jones scored one run and Gillaspie contributed two runs, three RBI and was a single away from hitting for the cycle.

Tyler Weber walked in the top of the fourth, and with two outs the runners beat out a fielder's choice by Kenny Williams, Jr. Andy Dirks took his first pitch to the gap in right-center field for a double that would drive home Weber.

Gillaspie led off the fifth with a solo homerun, his first of the season. Workman worked a full count to draw a walk and a double by Ryan Engrav would allow the speedy Workman to score from first. Engrav's hit was his first of his collegiate career and put the Shockers up, 3-0.

Illinois State would threaten in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs and cutting the lead to one. Muncrief struggled through five batters in the short outing. Gabe Demarco walked on four-straight balls, before Muncrief caught Kyle Cherney looking on strikes. Back-to-back singles by Kevin Konsler and Ronnie Calvird plated one run. Anthony Ruffolo hit into a fielder's choice but a wild throw by the second baseman allowed all the runners to reach safely and allowed Konsler to cross home. Womack took over on the mound and struck out his first batter before forcing a fly ball to end the inning and limit the damage.

Wichita State wasn't done and used four runs in the top of the eighth to put some distance between themselves and the Redbirds. Tyler hill drew a lead off walk on a full count and Williams followed with a single through the right side. Dirks was just shy of a homerun to center field, but the fly ball was good enough to get Hill home on a sacrifice. Jones singled on his first pitch and Gillaspie cleared the bases with a triple for two RBI. Dusty Coleman continued the inning with a double to the right-center field gap, scoring Gillaspie and giving WSU a five-run lead they never relinquished.

Wichita State hosts Binghamton on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Both games start at 7 p.m. at Eck Stadium.