Wichita State (0-0, 0-0 American) vs. Long Beach State (0-0, 0-0 Big West)
Friday, February 17 | 8:00 pm CT | Long Beach, California (Bohl Diamond at Blair Field)
TV: ESPN+ | Radio: KFH 97.5 FM/1240 AM
RHP Clark Candiotti (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Graham Osman (0-0, 0.00)

Saturday, February 18 | 8:00 pm CT | Long Beach, California (Bohl Diamond at Blair Field)
TV: None | Radio: KFH 97.5 FM/1240 AM
LHP Payton Tolle (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Nico Zeglin (0-0, 0.00)

Sunday, February 19 | 3:00 pm CT | Long Beach, California (Bohl Diamond at Blair Field)
TV: ESPN+ | Radio: KFH 97.5 FM/1240 AM
RHP Grant Adler (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA

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SCENE SETTER: Wichita State opens the 2023 season with a seven-game road trip, featuring a three-game series at Long Beach State and a four-gamer on the road at Utah Tech. The Shockers seek their first road win to begin a season since the 2018 campaign, when WSU swept a three-game series at McNeese State. Friday's season opener is Wichita State's first game in the state of California since 2017, when the Shockers dropped two of three games at Cal Poly. Wichita State does not play a midweek contest until March 7 following three weekend series. WSU aims to rebound from a 21-36 season a year ago, the second-most losses in program history. Interim head coach Loren Hibbs was appointed to lead the Shockers in December following the departure of Eric Wedge, who compiled a 65-61 record in three seasons at the helm. Wichita State is hunting their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since the 2013 season, a regional bid that was later vacated by the NCAA.

SHOCKER BASEBALL ON THE RADIO AND ESPN PLUS: KFH 97.5 FM/1240 AM will once again serve as the radio home for all Wichita State baseball broadcasts in 2023. Former Shocker pitcher (1991-94) and Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Famer Shane Dennis and Denning Gerig will have the call of the action against Long Beach State and Utah Tech, with "The Voice of the Shockers" and Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Famer Mike Kennedy returning to the airwaves following the conclusion of the Wichita State men's basketball season. Both Friday and Sunday's games against Long Beach State will be streamed on ESPN+. Live audio, in addition to live statistics, will be available for all games at GoShockers.com/listen and ShockerStats.com. 

SERIES HISTORY:  The Shockers and Dirtbags have a long and storied history against one another, battling 53 times in program history. Long Beach State holds a 29-24 lead in the all-time series, with the last meeting coming in 2015. The Dirtbags swept a three-game series from the Shockers that season, tossing a no-hitter in Sunday's series finale. Long Beach State has claimed nine of the last ten games in the series; the lone Shockers victory in that stretch was a 5-4 walk-off victory in 2014 courtesy of a ninth inning single from Daniel Kihle. Wichita State's last sweep of a ranked team came against the Dirtbags in 2006, as the Shockers downed #21 LBSU in three straight. The two teams have met once in the College World Series, an 8-5 Wichita State win in the opening round of the 1991 CWS. The Shockers reached the final following two more wins, but lost to LSU 6-3 in the title game.

SCOUTING LONG BEACH STATE: The Dirtbags finished 29-27 in 2022, including a 17-13 mark in Big West play. Seven of Long Beach State's 29 wins came against ranked competition, including a series win to open the year against #3 Mississippi State and a record-breaking 28-2 win against #17 Cal Poly. The Dirtbags are tasked with replacing their entire weekend rotation and the majority of the pitching staff as a whole, including freshman standout Juaron Watts-Brown, who transferred to future Shocker opponent Oklahoma State. Long Beach State added several D1 transfers to the roster, including projected Friday starter Graham Osman (Arizona State) and Saturday arm Nico Zeglin (Gonzaga). The position player transfers are highlighted by infielder Alex Champagne (Arizona State), infielder Nick Marinconz (Cal Poly), outfielder Jashia Morrissey-Jakel (Cal State Bakersfield) and outfielder Joey Walls (UNLV), who led the nation with 26 doubles last season. Head coach Eric Valenzuela returns for his fourth season at the helm of the Dirtbags following a six-year run at St. Mary's (2014-19). The Dirtbags program is one of the most storied in college baseball history, with 1,900 wins and four College World Series appearances entering the 2023 season. Long Beach State is seeking their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2017.

BACK IN THE SADDLE: Interim head coach Loren Hibbs is in his first season leading the Shockers after taking over for Eric Wedge in December of 2022. Hibbs starred as a record-setting outfielder for the Shockers, helping WSU to the program's first-ever CWS appearance in 1982, and still holds the NCAA record for single-season runs scored with 125. He then served as an assistant under legendary Shocker head coach Gene Stephenson before moving on to Charlotte, where Hibbs guided the 49ers for 27 seasons and more than 800 wins. He returned to the Wichita State program following the 2019 season, joining the staff as Director of Baseball Operations.

HIGH PRAISE: The Shockers landed four players on the American Athletic Conference preseason all-conference team, most of any club in the league. Infielder Brock Rodden, outfielder Chuck Ingram, designated hitter Payton Tolle and right-handed pitcher Cameron Bye were all selected, with Rodden tabbed as the conference's Preseason Player of the Year. Despite the league-best four honorees, Wichita State was picked fifth in the eight-team American Athletic Conference preseason poll.

RODDEN RETURN:  Infielder Brock Rodden burst on to the scene as one of college baseball's most impactful players in 2022. The Seminole State transfer led the Shockers in batting average (.338), on-base percentage (.441) and slugging percentage (.653) while launching 17 home runs, the most by a Shocker since Drew Moffitt hit 26 long balls in 2004. He was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 10th Round of the 2022 MLB Draft (pick 304 overall) but elected not to sign, one of just three players chosen in the top ten rounds to do so.

CALIFORNIA BLUES: Wichita State will be looking to reverse a trend of recent struggles in the Golden State this weekend. Dating back to the 2007 season, the Shockers have gone 4-20 in the state of California, with single wins against Cal Poly (2017), UC Santa Barbara (2014), Long Beach State (2010), and Pepperdine (2007). The last series win for Wichita State in California was a three-game sweep against #21 Long Beach State in 2006.  

JUCO INFLUX: The Wichita State 2023 roster features eight junior college transfers, several of which are expected to be immediate contributors. Former Mississippi State outfielder Kyte McDonald brings elite speed out in centerfield, and former St. Mary's righty Clark Candiotti will take the ball as Wichita State's opening day starter. Two members of Cowley College's NJCAA runner-up team will play major roles, as infielder David Herring is in the mix for several infield spots and right-handed pitcher Grant Adler makes the start on Sunday. Righties Matt Wilkinson, Colton Vercoe and Carter Rost were added to solidify the bullpen, and catcher Mauricio Millan is the projected starter behind the dish.

BULLPEN RELOAD: There is perhaps no bigger question mark for the Shockers in 2023 than the development of the bullpen, which returns just over 20% of the team's appearances from a year ago and no saves. Left-hander Caden Favors was excellent down the stretch last season, logging 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings as an "opener," and lefty Jace Miner showed flashes of brilliance both as a midweek starter and long reliever. Junior righty Nate Adler was highlighted by coaches in the fall as a breakout candidate, and sophomore right-hander Robert Cranz has electric stuff that figures to feature in late-inning situations. Whoever assumes the closer role will be tasked with replacing Connor Holden, who parlayed a 2.78 ERA and six saves into a free agent contract with the Detroit Tigers.

BEATING THE BEST: Despite Wichita State's disappointing final record, the Shockers demonstrated on several occasions their ability to compete with some of the nation's best programs. WSU defeated three Super Regional teams a year ago, besting Texas A&M 6-5 in the Frisco Classic championship, blanking East Carolina 5-0 for ECU's only home conference loss, and routing College World Series runner-up Oklahoma 18-0 in a game in which WSU held the Sooners to just one hit.

CUTTING DOWN ON THE K'S: If Wichita State is to take a major step forward offensively in 2023, a key metric to monitor will be the Shockers contact rate. WSU struck out 514 times last season, the most in a single campaign in program history. 10 different Shockers fanned more than 30 times.

MAJOR LEAGUE LINEAGE: Two Wichita State newcomers have fathers who played the game at the highest level. Right-handed pitcher Clark Candiotti is the son of knuckleballer Tom Candiotti, who spent 16 seasons in Major League Baseball with five different teams, and infielder Jack Little is the son of Mark Little, a four-year big leaguer with five different clubs.

TWO-WAY TOLLE: Sophomore Payton Tolle quickly became a fan favorite in his first season with the Shockers in 2022, sliding into the weekend rotation and establishing himself as a fearsome presence in the middle of the order. He hit .317 with seven doubles, three home runs and 18 RBI, plus a 4-6 record with a 4.48 ERA on the mound in 12 starts. The imposing slugger authored one of the season's most memorable moments with a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning against Texas A&M, helping the Shockers win the Frisco Classic. He was named The American's #9 draft prospect in the class of 2024 by Perfect Game and the #14 prospect by D1Baseball.

PENNINGTON POP: One newcomer to watch is junior transfer Garrett Pennington, who joins the Shockers after three seasons at Division II powerhouse Central Missouri (2020-22). Pennington was named a D2CCA All-American in 2022 after producing ridiculous numbers in his final season with the Mules; the Lenexa, Kansas native slashed .397/.477/.732 for a 1.209 OPS. Pennington finished the year with 23 doubles, 11 home runs and 50 RBI in 49 games.