Box Score

NORMAL, Ill. - Jordan Cooper extended his scoreless inning streak against Illinois State to 23 as Wichita State won game one over first-place Illinois State 9-0.

Cooper pitched eight innings and allowed just four singles in the game while tying his career-high with 10 strikeouts.

Preston Springer went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a home run, while Cody Lassley and Johnny Coy each added two hits.

Bret Bascue led off the third inning with a double and advanced to third on a flyout from Erik Harbutz.  A sacrifice fly by Tyler Grimes scored Bascue to give the Shocks a 1-0 lead.

The Shockers added two more in the fourth off of ILS starter Corey Maines.  Cody Lassley doubled with one out and Travis Bennett reached on a fielding error by the first baseman.  A single by Johnny Coy drove in Lassley and Bennett scored on a wild pitch to put the Shocks in front 3-0. 

The scoring continued for WSU in the fifth inning.  Erik Harbutz led off the inning with a home run and with one out Will Baez walked.  Preston Springer laced a double into left centerfield to score Baez to increase the lead to 5-0.  Lassley and Coy both walked in the inning and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.  They both came around to score on a single by Ryan Jones to make the score 7-0.

WSU tacked on another run in the seventh with two outs.  Bennett walked and Kevin Hall, who pinch ran for Bennett, stole second and advanced to third on an infield single by Coy.  Hall came around to score on a fielding error by the Redbird first baseman to put WSU up 8-0.

The Redbirds threatened in the seventh with two walks and a single to load the bases but Cooper picked off Chad Hinshaw at first base to end the inning.

Cooper again loaded the bases in the eighth, but escaped with a flyout to extend his scoreless inning streak against the Redbirds to 23.

Springer hit his eighth home run of the season to lead off the ninth

The Shockers and Redbirds play game two of their series at 2 p.m. on Sat., May 1.

-Wichita State-