WICHITA, Kan. – Junior pitcher Preston Snavely tossed a career-high seven innings as the Wichita State University baseball team shut out the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 2-0, in the first game of a three-game series Friday afternoon, March 29, at Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field.
 
Wichita State (14-12) is scheduled to face Bethune-Cookman (9-18) in game two of the series at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30.
 
Snavely, a right-hander from Fort Collins, Colo., allowed just three hits in 105 pitches, while compiling five strikeouts and four walks, improving to 3-2 on the mound this season.
 
WSU closer Mitchell Walters secured his team-high fifth save of 2019 after throwing a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout.
 
Paxton Wallace paced the Shockers at the plate, tallying a double and RBI, while Jacob Katzfey added a triple. Luke Ritter also had a hit in the game.
 
Wichita State plated its first run of the contest in the bottom of the third after Katzfey belted a triple down the right field line, prior to scoring on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jordan Boyer.
 
WSU increased its lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Ritter led-off the frame with a single up the middle, before crossing home plate on Wallace's one-out double down the right field line.
 
Snavely, reliever Aaron Haase and Walters took over from there, keeping the Wildcats off the scoreboard the remaining five innings of the game to seal Wichita State's third consecutive victory.
 
Clarence Carter led the Wildcats offensively with a double.
 
Bethune-Cookman starter Anthony Maldonado (2-3) was the tough-luck losing pitcher in the contest after throwing a complete game, but surrendering two earned runs on three hits with six strikeouts and a pair of walks.