Box Score WICHITA, Kan.? Wichita State (29-25) got a five-hit, shutout performance from Jordan Cooper on the mound and beat Illinois State (25-23) 4-0 on Friday night in the final round of pod play in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tournament at Eck Stadium.

A roaring crowd of 4,061 Shocker fans were on hand to back the home team as they played for the right to play in the conference title game. The Shocks showed their appreciation with 11 hits and eight shutout innings from starter Jordan Cooper.

Cooper (8-5) threw lights out on Friday night, allowing just five hits while striking out nine. On the flipside, the Shocker hitters supported him with all the runs he needed. Right fielder Ryan Engrav paced the Shocker offense, hitting 3-for-4 with a pair of clutch RBI.

For the Redbirds, starter Corey Maines went six innings to take the loss, giving up four runs on 10 hits, while walking two and striking out five. On offense, ISU managed five singles in the game, but couldn't string any together.

The Shockers came out like a team on a mission, smacking a single just one batter into the game. By the end of the second, Wichita State had built a 3-0 lead.

Designated hitter Chris O'Brien led off the bottom of the second with a single and centerfielder Ryan Jones joined him on base when he walked. Right fielder Ryan Engrav continued his streak of clutch hitting with runners on, driving both of them in with a single up the middle. After shortstop Tyler Grimes drilled a two-out hit, catcher Cody Lassley did the same to drive him in and give the Shocks their lead, 3-0.

In the meantime, Cooper was in the groove. Through five innings, the freshman right-hander had sat five Redbirds down on strikes, walked one and allowed just three hits.

Cooper's counterpart, Illinois State starter Corey Maines, fell into rhythm himself. After surrendering three runs in the second, Maines did not allow another to score for three innings while racking up five strikeouts in five innings.

Third baseman Chance Sossamon and the rest of the Shocker offense jolted Maines out of that rhythm in the bottom of the sixth. Left fielder Bret Bascue got the Shocks going by beating out an infield single. After swiping third, Bascue scored when Sossamon came through with an RBI single to put WSU ahead, 4-0.

Redbird closer Jim Sajewich took over for Maines to start the seventh inning. Although his two innings of relief were scoreless, the damage had been done.

Sossamon switched roles, coming in to close out Cooper's shutout effort, to seal the win for the Shockers and date with the Creighton Bluejays for the championship game Saturday night. The first pitch is slated for 7 p.m. and can be seen on FSN Midwest.