The RoundHouse | 12/27/2021 10:39:00 AM

 
Wichita State's history with baseball in downtown Wichita is significant. Lawrence-Dumont Stadium served as the site of several prominent games in the early days of the Gene Stephenson era.
 
So, it was fitting that the Shockers opened Riverfront Stadium – which replaced Lawrence-Dumont – on April 10 with a 10-1 win over Houston. The chance to check out the new stadium attracted 7,509 fans to rank No. 7 on Wichita State's list of home games.
 
The $90-million stadium, built for Triple-A baseball, is home to Wichita Wind Surge, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. COVID-19 delayed its opening by a year and the Shockers stepped in for the debut event.
 
"I love the fans of Wichita and the fact they showed up today," coach Eric Wedge said. "It's always a little bit more meaningful when you're playing in front of your fans, and they pack the stadium."
 
Freshman pitcher Jace Kaminska struck out seven in a complete-game victory. Third baseman Paxton Wallace hit a two-run home run, the first in the stadium, and designated hitter Hunter Gibson contributed a grand slam in the rout of the Cougars.
 
The Shockers plan to play an annual game downtown, much like the men's basketball team plays a top opponent at Intrust Bank Arena.
 
Those games will continue the connection with the downtown stadium that started early in Stephenson's tenure as coach. Since the university lacked adequate facilities for crowds, the Shockers played opponents such as Southern Cal, Arizona State, Hawaii, Arkansas and Cal State-Fullerton at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in the late 1970's and 1980's.
 
The Roundhouse is counting down the 10 most interesting and significant stories of 2021 for Wichita State athletics. Check back this week for more.