Box Score WICHITA, Kan.? A bottom of the ninth bases-loaded Shocker rally fell one run short in the opening game of the series against the Illinois State Redbirds, resulting in a 5-4 loss.

Junior catcher Cody Lassley came through for the Shockers in the bottom of the ninth when he tagged a bases-loaded RBI single to pull WSU within a run for the second time in as many innings, but his late-inning heroics weren't enough to give the Shocks' the victory.

Neither were those of junior Ryan Jones who ignited both the Shocker dugout and the Shocker crowd when he crushed a two-run homerun to right field to pull his team within one, 4-3, in the bottom of the eighth. The right fielder's first long ball of the season appeared to be the shift in momentum the Shockers needed, but WSU was unable to combine offensive chances with a solid pitching performance by its starter Tim Kelley.

The sophomore right-hander struck out a career-high 10 Redbirds and walked just one on Friday night. Wichita State's starter worked diligently, scattering six hits over 7.2 innings and surrendering four runs, only two of which were earned.  

Freshman right-hander Ryan Camp benefited the Redbirds with a strong outing, as well. Camp surrendered one run off of five hits in six innings of work. He struck out nine, but walked five on Friday night.

At the plate, the Shockers were led by junior left fielder Bret Bascue, who went 2-for-3 for the Shockers. Freshman Taylor Brown also struck a pair of hits for the Shocks.

Two innings in, Kelley had sat five Redbirds down on strikes, but Illinois State found a way to score. Third baseman Ryan Court drew a one-out walk to get on before a catcher's interference call sent left fielder Jake Thornton to join him on the bases. Although Kelley struck out the side in the second, a pair of wild pitches sent Court to third and then to the plate to give the Redbirds an early advantage, 1-0.

A pitching duel ensued as Camp tied his game high fifth strikeout in the bottom of the third, but it was the emergence of walks that the Shockers began to go after. Freshman shortstop Tyler Grimes took a two-out walk and swiped his career-high third stolen base of the game to reach third base, but was unable to score as Camp returned to efficiency through the third. Despite working without the lead, Kelley's proficiency shined. By the end of the third, the sophomore had collected seven strikeouts.

In the top of the fifth, the Redbirds again found a way to score without the help of power hitting. A botched sacrifice bunt by catcher Landinn Eckhardt resulted in his reaching first by way of a fielder's choice. A wild pitch and a squeeze bunt pushed Eckhardt across to extend the Illinois State lead, 2-0.

The Shockers cut the deficit in half in their next turn at the plate. Grimes and junior first baseman Clint McKeever led off the bottom of the inning with back-to-back doubles. Unfortunately for the Shockers, McKeever's double fell into shallow right field keeping Grimes from scoring. Grimes would get another chance to score, and did so on a long sacrifice fly by sophomore Ryan Engrav.

Illinois State answered in the sixth with a pair of singles to scratch another across and take a 3-1 lead. Again WSU put up a fight in its half of the inning with runners in scoring position, but were unable to narrow the gap.

In the meantime, the Redbirds stuck to their small ball game plan. Taking advantage of a Shocker error, second baseman Mike Stalowy moved around on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly to methodically build on the Redbird lead, 4-1.

One swing of Jones' bat, however, wiped out nearly all of the Redbirds' work.

With the game in arm's reach, however, the Shockers moved forward with new arms on the mound. Kelley's strong start ended two outs into the eighth inning, but was not followed by strong relief. In the top of the ninth, the pitching staff walked four batters to give Illinois State an insurance run, 5-3.

It was that insurance run that put the Shocks away.

The Shockers and Redbirds face off in the second game of the three-game series Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium Home of Tyler Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

-Wichita State-