Feb. 14-16 - #34 Wichita State (0-0) vs. SIUE (0-0), 3, 2, 1 p.m.

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Date: Feb. 14-16
First Pitch: 3, 2, 1 p.m. CST
Location: Wichita, Kan.
Stadium: Eck Stadium
Radio: KFH 1240 AM (Friday)/KNSS 1330 AM (Saturday & Sunday)
Talent: Mike Kennedy & Shane Dennis
Series: First Meeting

Probable Pitching Matchups
Feb. 14 — Cale Elam (RHP, 0-0, 0.00) vs. Ryan Daniels (RHP, 0-0, 0.00)
Feb. 15 — A.J. Ladwig (RHP, 0-0, 0.00) vs. Jake Stauffenberg (RHP, 0-0, 0.00)
Feb. 16 — Garrett Brummett (RHP, 0-0, 0.00) vs. Jarrett Bednar (RHP, 0-0, 0.00)


Quick Hits
• Friday's game will be broadcast on 98.7 FM/KFH 1240 AM, while Saturday and Sunday's games will be broadcast on KNSS 1330 AM.  All three games will also be on www.shockerradio.com.
• This will be the first meeting between Wichita State and SIU Edwardsville.
• Former Shocker Danny Jackson is an assistant coach for SIUE.
• WSU is 26-10 in season openers since 1978.
• The Shockers are 33-3 in home openers since 1978.
• The Shockers are 69-3 all-time at home (Eck and Lawrence-Dumont) in the month of February.
• WSU is 136-37 all-time overall in the month of February.
• WSU is 4-2 on Valentine's Day since 1978. The Shockers are 6-1 on Feb. 15 and 4-4 on Feb. 16.
• The Shocks were picked first in the MVC Preseason Poll.
• Junior first baseman Casey Gillaspie, junior catcher Tyler Baker, senior outfielder Garrett Bayliff and senior relief pitcher Aaron LaBrie were named to the preseason all-Valley team.
• WSU set a school record with a .977 fielding percentage in 2013.  The entire infield returns for 2014.
• The Shocks set the school record for fewest errors in a season with 61 in 2013.
• WSU returns eight starters and 20 letterwinners from the 2013 team.
• The Shocker pitching staff returns four starting pitchers including Cale Elam, A.J. Ladwig, Kris Gardner and Garrett Brummett.
• WSU has ranked in the top 25 in attendance since 1999.
• Head Coach Todd Butler is in his first season as coach of the Shockers.
• Assistant Coach Brian Walker is the third base coach and Volunteer Assistant Coach Jon Coyne is the first base coach.

Scouting SIU Edwardsville
The Cougars return 18 letterwinners and five starters from a team that went 16-32 a year ago. SIUE is picked eighth in the OVC preseason poll. Last season, the Cougars hit .240 and the pitching staff had a 5.84 ERA. Returning offensively for SIUE  is Skyler Geissinger who hit .260 with 12 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 29 RBI in 2013. Pitcher Travis Felax returns after going 3-6 with a 2.26 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 75.2 innings in 2013. The Cougars are led by second-year head coach Tony Stoecklin.

Series History vs. SIUE
This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

WSU a Winner in Season Openers
Since 1978, the Shockers are 26-10 in season openers.  The last time WSU lost a season opener was in 2013, a 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh.  

WSU a Winner in Home Openers
Since 1978, the Shockers are 33-3 in home openers.  The three losses were to New Mexico, 11-13, in 1988 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, to Richmond, 10-11, in 2007 and 4-6 to Pittsburgh in 2013.

Jackson Returns to WSU
Former Shocker Danny Jackson will return to Eck Stadium as an assistant coach for SIU Edwardsville. Jackson played for the Shockers from 2003-07 as a first baseman and relief pitcher. He earned Valley Tournament MVP honors in 2005.

Shocks on Valentine's Day
Wichita State is 4-2 on Valentine's Day since 1978. The Shockers have never played a home game on Feb. 14. The six previous games were at Northern Arizona (1981), at Arizona State (1981), a doubleheader at Miami (1983) and a doubleheader at Hawaii-Hilo.

Two Games to be Televised by ESPNU in 2014
The Wichita State baseball team will be featured on ESPNU two times during the 2014 season.
The Shockers open Missouri Valley Conference play on Fri., March 21 against Missouri State and the game will be televised on ESPNU. The game will start at 5:30 p.m. at Eck Stadium.
WSU will also play No. 21 Kansas State on Tue., May 6 and that game will air on ESPNU at 7 p.m. at Eck Stadium.
Every game on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 will also be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members, on Apple TV and Roku to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

Shocks Picked First in the Valley
The Shockers were first in the Valley preseason poll done by the league's coaches.  WSU totaled 56 points and six first-place votes.  Missouri State was picked second with two first-place votes and 55 points.

Four Shockers Named to Preseason All-Valley Team
Junior first baseman Casey Gillaspie, junior catcher Tyler Baker, senior outfielder Garrett Bayliff and senior relief pitcher Aaron LaBrie were named to the preseason all-Valley team.  Baker earned first team honors as the utility player in 2013, while Gillaspie and Bayliff earned second team honors and LaBrie was honorable mention.

Shockers Ranked in Preseason Poll
Wichita State is ranked in one preseason poll.  The Shockers are ranked 34th by Collegiate Baseball.  The Shockers are also receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll and the NCBWA poll.

Gillaspie Named Preseason All-American
Junior first baseman Casey Gillaspie earned several preseason All-America honors.  He was named first team by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America and second team by Perfect Game.

Baker and Bayliff Named Preseason All-Americans
Junior catcher Tyler Baker and senior outfielder Garrett Bayliff were named third team preseason All-Americans by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Hitting Streak Alive for Gillaspie
Casey Gillaspie comes into the 2014 season on a three-game hitting streak.  He finished the 2013 season with a hit in the final three games against Illinois State, Kansas State and Arkansas.

Four All-Valley Performers Return
WSU returns four all-Valley performers in 2014 in first team selection Tyler Baker and second team selections Casey Gillaspie, Garrett Bayliff, and Cale Elam.  Baker earned the nod as the utility player, while Gillaspie was honored at first base, Bayliff in the outfield and Elam was honored as a starting pitcher.    

Eight Starters Return
WSU returns eight starters from the 2013 team in seniors Garrett Bayliff, Micah Green, Dayne Parker and Erik Harbutz, juniors Casey Gillaspie, Tyler Baker and Mikel Mucha and sophomore Tanner Dearman.

Pitching Staff Solid
The Shockers return seven pitchers from the 2013 team including starters Cale Elam, A.J. Ladwig, Kris Gardner and Garrett Brummett.  Relievers include Aaron LaBrie, Foster Vielock and Drew Palmer.

Father and Son
Greg and Garrett Brummett became the third father and son duo to play for the Shockers since 1978.  The others were Stan and Taylor Brown and Charlie and Chris O'Brien. Rich and Mitch McIntyre will become the fourth duo.

Brothers
The Gillaspie's became the 10th set of brothers to play baseball at Wichita State since 1978.  The nine include Travis and Dalton Banwart, Chris and Greg Bauer, Jeff, Jaime and Marc Bluma, Joe and Fred Carter, Todd and Darren Dreifort, Mike and Greg Drumright, Conor and Casey Gillaspie, Koyie and Tyler Hill, Tim and Dan Raley and Eric and Ryan Wedge. Kris and Austin Gardner will become the 11th set.

Shocks to Play 30 Home Games
WSU will play 30 home games in 2014 including 2013 NCAA Tournament participants Central Arkansas, Cal State Fullerton, Oklahoma State and Kansas State.  The Shockers also host SIU Edwardsville, Long Beach State, Stephen F. Austin, Missouri State, Nebraska, Oral Roberts, Southern Illinois, Kansas, Bradley and Dallas Baptist.

Newcomers Look to Make Impact
WSU welcomes 14 newcomers to the 2014 team including juniors Zair Koeiman, Brandon Kimbrel, TJ Looney, Ray Ashford and Chase Simpson, sophomore Jerrik Sigg and freshmen Sam Tewes, Reagan Biechler, Mitch McIntyre, Austin Gardner, Austin Bright, Wes Phillips, Cody Tyler and Michael Burns.

WSU Baseball on Facebook & Twitter
Become a fan of Wichita State Baseball on Facebook.  Check out pictures from 1978-2014 along with videos. Also follow the Shockers on Twitter @ShockerBaseball for in game updates.

The Todd Butler Show
The Todd Butler radio show airs on 1330 KNSS from 8-9 p.m. on Monday's.  It is hosted by Mike Kennedy and starts on Feb. 17.

The Brent Kemnitz Show
The Brent Kemnitz radio show airs on KNSS 1330 around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday's.  It is hosted by KNSS play-by-play analyst Mike Kennedy.  It starts on Feb. 22.

2013 Season Review
In 2013, the Shockers finished 39-28 overall and 15-6 in the Valley.  WSU won its 18th MVC Tournament title to advance to the 28th NCAA Tournament in school history. Brandon Peterson was named Valley Newcomer-of-the-Year. Tyler Baker and Peterson earned first team all-Valley honors, while Cale Elam, Casey Gillaspie and Garrett Bayliff were named to the second team.  Erik Harbutz, Albert Minnis and Aaron LaBrie were named honorable mention, while Gillaspie and Bayliff were named to the All-Defensive Team.  Garrett Brummett earned Freshman All-America honors.