Shocker baseball drops first game in Hawaii

Wichita State’s woes continued on its eight-game road trip with the Shockers still looking for their first victory on the trip.

WSU dropped its fourth straight late Wednesday and early Thursday morning, falling to Hawaii 6-1.

Things began nicely for WSU. With two outs in the first, Casey Gillaspie doubled and scored on Tyler Baker’s single.

Hawaii (3-16) tied it in the bottom of the first when Stephen Ventimilia singled, stole second and scored on a double play.

Like many games this season, Shocker bats then went cold. Johnny Coy singled and reached second after Joe Haddox walked in the second. But Cody Bobbit struck out to end the threat. That would be the last time the Shockers would have two base runners in an inning.

In fact, the Shockers had just one base runner reach third base. Baker opened the sixth with a double and did not get to third until two were out.

Hawaii starting pitcher Connor Little, who entered the game 0-3, enjoyed his finest hour. Little went eight innings, allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out four. Going into the game, opposing batters were hitting .330 against Little. He threw 113 pitches, 83 for strikes (a .735 strike ratio).

During its four-game skid, WSU is hitting just .189 and has two extra-base hits. Both of those came against Hawaii — Gillaspie’s sixth of the season and Baker’s fifth. The Shockers have scored seven runs in the four games.

Meanwhile, WSU pitchers have allowed 18 earned runs for a 5.06 ERA. Against Hawaii, they tied a season high, handing out six walks.

Notes: Zach Beringer (1-0, 3.00 ERA) will pitch the second game of the series for WSU, facing Corey MacDonald (1-2, 3.49). . . . WSU and Hawaii are tied 22-22 in their series, with all but four games being played in Hawaii. WSU is 21-19 in Honolulu. . . The victory was just the second in 13 home games for Hawaii. . . The Shockers tied a season-high with three double plays, giving them 17 for the season. . . . Baker, who had three hits, is hitting .455 on the trip. Coy, Gillaspie and Garrett Bayliff are all 3 for 12 (.250). Dayne Parker is 1 for 9 (.111). Taylor Doggett is 1 for 11 (.090), and Erik Harbutz is 0 for 14. . . . Hawaii is batting .220 as a team and its leading hitter, Marc Flores, is batting .262.

E — Mateychick, Kitamura. DP — 3. LOB — WSU 9, Hawaii 4. 2B — Gillaspie (6), Baker (5), Podratz (3). 3B — George (2), Alviado (1). S — Wobrock. SB — Bentimilia (2).

WP — Mateychick. Umpires — Phil Benson, home; Ruben Candelaria; Dave Gimbi, third. T — 2:14. A — 2,481.