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Shocks Win Valley Opener, 5-2

3/27/2009 7:00:00 PM

Box Score PEORIA, Ill. -- The Wichita State baseball team (13-10, 1-0) got a three-run first and an outstanding outing from Tim Kelley as the Shockers defeated Bradley (6-13, 0-4), 5-2, in its Valley opener Friday afternoon at O'Brien Field.

Tyler Grimes went 3-for-4 on the day with three doubles while Ryan Jones went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

The Shocks got things started early with three runs in the opening frame of the game. Will Baez led the WSU first off with a walk before Tyler Grimes took the first pitch from Bradley starter Brad Altbach down the left line for a double, putting runners in scoring position just two batters into the contest.

Altbach (1-3) scattered four runs on seven hits in seven innings of work, walking three and striking out eight in the losing effort.

Ryan Jones drove both runners in with a single to left, advanced to second and then stole third before coming home on a wild pitch to give WSU a 3-0 lead after one.

WSU added another run in the second on an RBI single by Baez that brought home Andrew Letourneau after the outfielder led the inning off with a four pitch walk.

Brett Hendricks' RBI single in the bottom of the frame got Bradley on the board for the first time against Shocker starter Tim Kelley. A single by Jordan Colvin brought home Hendricks, cutting the Wichita State lead in half, 4-2 after two complete.

Both offenses went stagnant until Justin Ziegler came on in relief of Altbach in the eighth, walking the first two batters he faced. Josh Rosecrans made the Braves' reliever pay, with an one-out single to right that gave the Shockers a 5-2 edge.

Kelley was strong in his first Friday Valley start, giving up just two runs on eight hits in the complete-game effort. The sophomore walked just one and struck out a career-high nine to move to 2-1 on the season.

The Shockers made a bid for some insurance for Kelley in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with nobody out but a double play and a strikeout shut down WSU's rally.

The Braves put a pair of runners in scoring position with one out after a pair of hits and a wild pitch, but Kelley settled back in to strike out Hendricks to secure the first complete-game of his career at WSU.

The teams are scheduled to resume the series with the second of three games this weekend tomorrow at 2 p.m.

--Wichita State--
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