Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Missouri State defeated Wichita State 8-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams. 

Chris O'Brien went 4-for-5 with three RBI, two doubles and a home run.

Josh Smith fell to 4-2.  He pitched 6.2 innings and gave up four earned run on nine hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Aaron Conway tripled to right field to lead off the game for Missouri State and scored on a single to centerfield by Kevin Medrano.  Josh Smith used a lineout and a double play to get out of the inning as the Bears took a 1-0 lead.

The Bears added on a run in the third.  Patrick Drake led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Conway to give MSU a 2-0 lead.

Tyler Paxson was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on a single by Drake.  After an error by Smith, Conway flew out, but Medrano singled through the left side to score Paxson and give the Bears a 3-0 lead.

MSU opened it up with five runs in the seventh for an 8-0 advantage.  The Bears used five hits and an error to plate the five runs.

WSU finally got on the board in the eighth inning.  Tyler Grimes led off with a walk and with one out advanced to third on a single up the middle by Chris O'Brien.  Grimes scored on a groundout by Springer and O'Brien scored on a double to right-center by Johnny Coy to cut the lead to 8-2.

The Shockers scored four more in the ninth for the final score of 8-6.  With one out, Dayne Parker walked and Tyler Coughenour singled to left field.  Grimes singled down the left field line to score Parker and with two outs, O'Brien hit his fifth home run of the season to make the score 8-6.  The game ended when Springer hit a deep fly ball to right field that was caught against the wall.

The Shockers and Bears play game two of the series at 2:07 p.m. on Sat., April 9.  The game will be televised on Kansas 22.

-Wichita State-