Wichita State @ ISU--Game Three Thread

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bluepower

Baseball Mod
We've beat Wichita State two different ways this weekend...with dominating pitching Friday night and then Saturday with smart, scrappy, come-from-behind baseball. Yesterday's pitching wasn't razor-sharp, but Rodriguez got the job done and the bullpen held the lead.

Today, the Sycamores look for a series sweep. But to do that, we'll be looking for Jason Van Skike to step up a notch on the mound, we'll look to score first and, as always, we have to keep from making errors. Needless to say, the players need to continue to maintain a high energy level.

RHP Jason Van Skike (3-0, 4.15 ERA) takes to the hill for the Sycamores today. Van Skike typically gets through six innings and gives up three or four runs. Today, he'll need to economize on his pitch count, hold WSU to two or three runs and get through the seventh for optimal success.

We'll be facing LHP Josh Smith (3.2, 4.54 ERA). Opposing batters are hitting .299 overall and in his one conference start, he gave up four runs in five innings and the opposition batted .350. According to the Shockernet fan site (who believes fan sits...lol), Gene Stephenson doesn't have much faith in the bullpen, but he'll likely need two or three bullpen guys today if we follow our gameplan.

The weather is cooler, but sunny today. Gametime temp will be near 60-degrees and winds will be at 5-10 mph from the wnw.

Today's game will be available on WBOW (AM 1130 & 1300) and via Live Stats. The link to both is below:

http://www.gosycamores.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15200&KEY=&SPID=7256&SPSID=65130

And, if you have problems getting WBOW on-line or you'd like to listen to the Wichita State broadcast on KNSS, here's the link:

http://www.goshockers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=7500&SPID=2844&SPSID=61169
 

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Gene Stephenson Pre-Game Show on KNSS, Wichita:

Coach Stepenson said that inconsistancy is rampant on his team. Making poor pitch selection at the plate. Pitching yesterday went well and had a 4-1 lead and then pitching fell apart. "Need to depend on consistancy every day."

Defensively making a lot of mental mistakes. "These guys don not understand baseball and the ways it needs to be played." The players have an attention span of a goldfish...three seconds. "We are not good enough physically to overpower anyone on the mound or at the plate." "Its a simple game and its the players that make it so difficult."

Boy, this guy know's how to motivate his team!!
 
In the top of the first...Van Skike faces Tyler Grimes (.245) lines out hard to Fieser at third...Jones bunts on first pitch back to Van Skike, out number two...Springer (.323) is 1-17 in recent games... Springer strikes out swinging. No score

During batting practice, WSU Coach would get any hitter that hit a fly ball out of the batters box and not allow him to continue to take BP. This guy is demotivating...big time!

Moving into the bottom of the first...WSU's Josh Smith started his first weekend game last weekend after the number three guy, Charlie Lowell got injured...Strausborger flies out to right-center... Burnam flies out to left...Fieser (.366 on season, but 0-6 this weekend) flies out to right. No score
 
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Into the top of the second...Van Skike will face Bennett, Coy and Lassley...Bennett grounds out to Grgurich at second (Bennett's teammate at Northern Iowa under Heller)...Coy is hit in the thigh and takes first...WSU has been plunked 45 times in 35 games...Fieser makes an outstanding diving play at third and retires Lassley at first, Coy advances to second...O'Brien (.282) goes to 0-2 then to 1-2 and grounds out to second. No score

Moving into the home-half of the second...Smith will face Ort, Lucas (catching for second straight day today) and Hartley... Ort (.377) goes to 0-2 and strikes out swinging...Lucas (.326) is 3 for 7 on the weekend, goes to 3-0 count then to 3-2 and flies out to right-center...Hartley (.333) goes to 0-2 and strikes out looking on a curve ball. No score

Announcer says that Smith is a fly ball pitcher and that's been the case on most of the balls put in play.
 
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In the top of the third...Van Skike takes on Goro and Baez, then to the top of the order and Grimes...Goro (.309) grounds out to second...Baez (.255) gets a single through the left side...look for Baez to try to steal... Grimes strikes out swinging... Jones grounds out to first. No score.

In the first two games, ISU batted .298 and WSU only managed .188.

Into the bottom of the third frame...Smith faces Liniger (DH today hitting .253) flys out to right... Grgurich (.315) flies out to right-center...Ferrell (2 for 5 and two sac bunts in series) goes to 3-0 and walks on four pitches...Strausborger goes to 0-2, then 2-2 gets a double to right and Ferrell scores...ISU leads 1-0...another two out RBI!...Straus steals third...now 4-4 stealing in series... Burnam strikes out swinging. ISU leads 1-0.
 
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Going to the top of the fourth...we're just 35 minutes into the game...as Van Skike faces Springer, Bennett and Coy...Springer grounds out to Fieser...Bennett gets infield single to short, as Ferrell makes a sliding pick-up...Coy strikes out swinging...third strikeout for Van Skike... Lassley singles on a line drive to center...runners at first and second with two outs...O'Brien gets single through short and Bennett scores...runners on first and second...four hits for WSU...Goro goes to 0-2 count and then Lassley is thrown out trying to steal third. Score tied at 1-1.

Shockers have fallen behind ISU for each of the three games and are just 3-9 this season when the opponent scores first.

Going to the bottom of the fourth...Smith will face Fieser, Ort and Lucas, as ISU attempts to re-take the lead... Fieser bunts out to third on a close play...Fieser 0-8 in series...Ort strikes out swinging on a fastball...Lucas strikes out, foul tip. Score tied at 1-1.
 
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Moving to the top of the fifth...Van Skike will face Goro, Baez and Grimes... Goro grounds out slowly to third... Baez (1 for 5 in series) goes to 0-2 then 2-2 and then strikes out swinging... Grimes gets a double to center...two outs...Jones goes to 3-0 count then 3-2 and strikes out swinging. Tied at 1-1.

Moving to the home half of the fifth frame...Smith will face Hartley, Liniger and Grgurich...pretty much a pitcher's duel so far... Hartley grounds out to first... Liniger goes to 3-2 count and walks... first walk for Liniger in 80 at-bats this season... Grgurich (6 for 30 over past nine games) flies out to left-center... Ferrell goes to 1-2 then 2-2 and then gets single, Liniger advances to third... Strausborger pops out to shallow center. Score still tied at 1-1.
 
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Moving to the top of the sixth...Van Skike faces Springer, Bennett and Coy...Springer grounds out to second...Bennett (2 for 7 in series and making best contact of any WSU player) grounds out slowly to second...Coy grounds out to third on a close play. Tied at 1-1.

And, into the bottom of the sixth in a fast-moving contest...Smith will face Burnam, Fieser and Ort... ISU REALLY needs to get after Smith this inning...Burnam flies out to center, one pitch and one out...Smith has not allowed a lead-off batter on base today...Fieser grounds out to third and Springer makes a good scoop at first on a low throw...Ort grounds out to short on a close play. Still tied 1-1.
 
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Going into the top of the seventh...Van Skike and Smith in a pitcher's duel...Van Skike will face Lassley, O'Brien and Goro...Van Skike has gone six or more innings in six consecutive starts... Lassley bunts to third for a single...Fieser was playing deep enough to pull it off... O'Brien grounds out to second, Lassley advances to second... Goro goes to 3-2 count and walks...runners at first and second with one out...Baez strikes out looking...two gone...102 pitches for Van Skike so far...Grimes goes to 1-2 then 3-2 and gets single off Van Skike's leg and off to left...one run scores...Grimes has come up with two, two-out hits today...Mann getting loose in ISU pen... Van Skike getting a couple of pitches to check leg...remains in game...first and third with two outs... wild pitch scores Goro from third...now 3-1 in favor of WSU...pitching change...new pitcher is Kevin Mann, seeing his first action in this series, although he warmed in the pen yesterday...LHP Mann is 4-0 on the season, all wins in relief and has a 3.68 ERA...he has not pitched since last weekend...the next three batters are lefties...Jones (0-3 today) goes to full count and grounds out to second. Wichita state picks up two runs on two hits to go ahead 3-1.

Into the home-half of the seventh...definitely need some run production. Josh Smith will face Lucas and he pops out to right...Hartley flies out to left...Liniger pops out to short right in foul territory. Smith goes a career best seven innings. Shockers lead 3-1.
 
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Should've pulled him after that last shot off his leg to a 4/32 hitter (Tyler Grimes)...
 
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Moving to the top of the eighth...Kevin Mann remains on the mound...Springer gets a hard grounder up the middle for a single...Bascue pinch-hits for Bennett...Bascue goes to 1-2 count and foul bunt attempt for strike three...new pitcher...Brandon Dorsett (1-0, 3.55 ERA in 12 innings)...Kevin Hall seeing his first AB today...Springer is thrown out trying to steal second, with Lucas making a good throw on a low pitch...Hall grounds out to second. WSU leads 3-1.

Into the bottom of the eighth...Smith will face Grgurich who grounds out to short...Smith has not allowed a lead-off batter on base today...Ferrell goes to 3-2 and flies out to shallow center...two outs... NEW PITCHER ...Cobie Guy (4.05 ERA) saw two-thirds of an inning yesterday...has an effective curve ball when its working...when its not, he walks people...Smith gave up just two hits and one run in 7.2 innings...Strausborger pops out to shallow right. WSU leads 3-1
 
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Going to the top of the ninth...the Sycamores have to hold the Shockers and get a good rally in the home-half of this inning...Dorsett remains on the mound...Lassley (2 for 3 today) goes to 3-1 count then 3-2 and strikes out swinging on a breaking ball...O'Brien pops out to third...Goro goes to 3-0, then 3-1 and gets a single...runner on first with one out...Walker Davidson makes his first plate appearance of series...Davidson is 3 for 11 on season...Davidson goes to 3-1, then full count grounder to Ferrell and makes wide throw to first...error on Ferrell...runners on first and third... Grimes has hit the ball well today...Grimes hit and takes first base...bases loaded for Jones with two outs... NEW PITCHER... LHP Brandon Flora (first conference appearance, in last 4.2 innings with only two hits and no runs)...Jones pops up to Hartley and drops the ball...two runs score...Grimes moved to third...runners on first and third...Jones steals second...Springer fouls out to Ort in foul territory at the wall in left. Last two runs unearned. WSU now leads 5-1

The bottom of the ninth is the last chance for ISU to put on a big rally...need four to tie and five to win...Cobie Guy will face Burnam (0-3 today) who goes to a full count, then grounds out to second... Fieser (0-9 this weekend) gets a single through the left side...third hit of day for ISU... wild pitch advances Fieser to second... takes double play out of the mix... Ort hits grounder to Davidson at second and makes wide throw to first for an error...Fieser scores...Ort holds at first... Lucas grounds to Goro and third who makes a wide throw and Lucas was initially called safe, but the home plate umpire ruled that the first baseman made the tag... Heller argues for a couple of minutes against the reversed call...Ort advanced to second... wild pitch moves Ort to third... Hartley (2 for 9 in series, 0-3 today) goes to 2-2 count and strikes out looking. Final score 5-2 in favor of WSU.
 
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shoot, 2 runs score on a dropped fly ball, now watch ISU score 2 runs here in the 9th, ugh, oh well, it's been a good series, neither team really pulled away from the other.

Just gotta go out and keep winning MVC series!
 

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A good pitching outing for both starters, but as Bankshot mentioned, it might have been better to pull Van Skike about the time he was hit on the leg. Josh Smith was nails, as were the relievers...as ISU could manage two runs (one earned) on three hits. He made just 99 pitches. As mentioned in one of the first posting, Smith forces fly-outs and thats exactly what happened. Meanwhile, WSU only had two fly outs!

Final score of 5-2.
 
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that WSU pitcher was pretty good today.

Gotta move on, the next 4 MVC series are against teams below ISU in the standings, gotta win those series, starting at SIU next weekend!

Creighton beat Bradley

SIU is still up on ILS 7-4
 
The play on Lucas in the 9th was a very bad call. He was safe, and the WSU coach got upset so he called for a meeting of the umpires, and the home plate umpire called him out. But I don't see how the home plate umpire could call him out, because it wasn't even his call to make. The first base umpire was right there and he called him safe. Rick Heller yelled at the first base umpire, then he walked over to his box on the third baseline and continued to argue but this time with the third base umpire. But to no avail the dropped ball by Hartley in the top of the 9th cost us the game.
 
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