Wichita Eagle: Wichita State Shockers

Wichita State wins, but loses MVC title

Paul Suellentrop — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:47 CDT

Wichita State lost the Missouri Valley Conference title and won a game on Saturday in its last at-bat. Coach Gene Stephenson addressed his uncertain future.

Quite a day at Eck Stadium.

WSU rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat Northwestern 4-3 in 10 innings. After, facing a pack of cameras, Stephenson looked around the 7,851-seat stadium his winning teams built and tried to turn the conversation to the MVC Tournament. His contract is up after the 2014 season and, should WSU choose to buy out that final year, he pondered the possibility of coaching his final game at Eck Stadium after 36 seasons.

Wichita State's Sexton questions Valley tournaments standards

Paul Suellentrop — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:33 CDT

Wichita State athletic director Eric Sexton thinks bid standards that lump Hammons Field and Eck Stadium in the same category with smaller Missouri Valley Conference baseball fields aren’t really standards.

The criteria for hosting the MVC Tournament needs to be strengthened, in Sexton’s mind. Illinois State’s Bass Field will hold next week’s tournament and Indiana State’s Warn Field is the 2014 site, as announced last week. While those fields may check all the boxes on the bid form, in real life they are far different from the best and biggest parks in the conference (a list that includes recently renamed Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill.).

Capacity, chairback seats, locker rooms, training rooms, restrooms, fan amenities, press boxes. Hammons and Eck (Bradley is not interested in hosting) are better equipped in all areas to handle a championship event.

Wichita State blanks Northwestern

Scott Paske — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:26 CDT

Wichita State can’t control what’s happening in Carbondale, Ill., where its fate in the Missouri Valley Conference baseball race lies in the hands of Illinois State heading into the regular season’s final day.

But so far, the Shockers’ final home series against Big Ten member Northwestern is serving as a good momentum builder for the conference tournament.

Sophomore A.J. Ladwig pitched six scoreless innings, and fellow Omaha native Casey Gillaspie belted his second grand slam of the season as WSU defeated Northwestern 5-0 on Friday in front of 3,027 at Eck Stadium.

Wichita State offense comes to life in 8-2 win over Northwestern

Paul Suellentrop — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:25 CDT

Wichita State needed one like this. In fact, it could use two more feel-good games to prepare for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

The Shockers defeated Northwestern 8-2 on Thursday at Eck Stadium to start a three-game non-conference series. They remained in second place in the Missouri Valley Conference when first-place Illinois State defeated Southern Illinois 4-3 to open that series. SIU must win at least one game to help WSU clinch a share of the title.

WSU (32-25) can’t control those games. It can work on adjusting to the off-speed pitches that frustrated hitters against Creighton and Oklahoma State in recent games. The Shockers looked like a savvy hitting team against Northwestern (22-24) by knocking out 15 hits and consistently taking the ball up the middle and to the opposite field. They roughed up Wildcats ace Luke Farrell, who entered the game with a 1.84 ERA, for nine hits and four runs in six innings.

Wichita State lands MVC volleyball tournament, but not baseball tourney

Paul Suellentrop — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:14 CDT

It must feel like an eternity to Wichita State baseball fans since Eck Stadium hosted the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

Not quite, but it’s been a long time, by historical standards, and it’s getting longer.

The MVC announced next season’s championship sites on Thursday and baseball will skip WSU for the fourth straight year. Indiana State will host the 2014 tournament after a vote of school officials.

Stephenson’s lack of contract extension puts Wichita State baseball in awkward spot

Paul Suellentrop — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:25 CDT

The stability that characterizes Wichita State baseball is replaced with uncertainty, anger and sadness as the Shockers prepare for their final home stand.

Coach Gene Stephenson’s contract ends after the 2014 season and there is no indication an extension is likely. That raises the possibility these three games against Northwestern will be the final Eck Stadium games of Stephenson’s 36-year career, should WSU decide to buy out the remaining year on his contract after this season.

“Anything is possible, I suppose,” Stephenson said. “If the university doesn’t want us here, so be it. Those are things I can’t control. We’re doing the best job that we know how.”

Wichita State men’s golf wants a share of the success

Paul Suellentrop — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:49 CDT

Wichita State’s athletic school year is running like a putt gaining momentum as it rolls downhill for birdie. Volleyball to the Sweet 16. Women’s basketball in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s basketball in the Final Four.

The men’s golfers want to join that parade of national success. The Shockers begin play in the NCAA Regional in Baton Rouge, La., on Thursday. They are seeded 11th in the 13-team field and the top five advance to the 30-team NCAA Championships beginning May 28 in Atlanta.

“We want to be part of that, too,” senior Rafael Becker said. “Everybody really, really wants to take the next step.”

Oklahoma State beats Wichita State 7-2

Paul Suellentrop — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:23 CDT

Wichita State had won four of the five previous meetings with Oklahoma State before this season, games that probably contributed to OSU changing coaches.

New coach Josh Holliday, a former Cowboy who played in some of the rivalry’s hottest games, reversed direction in his debut season. Tuesday’s 7-2 win at Eck Stadium gave No. 20 OSU its first regular-season sweep of WSU since 1994 in the on-and-off-again series. Then, instead of kicking the Shockers while they’re down, he spoke about his respect for the coaching staff, the importance of the rivalry and requested a copy of WSU’s media guide to check out Shocker history.

Most important, he likes the series and thinks it makes sense to continue.

Peterson becomes clutch closer for Shockers

Paul Suellentrop — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:51 CDT

In January, the Wichita State baseball team went to a Thunder hockey game. Since the Kansans and Oklahomans on the roster rarely grow up following the sport, they needed instruction on the rules.

Fortunately, there are a few dedicated hockey fans who can help. Closer Brandon Peterson, from Minnesota, tried to explain icing, off sides and power plays.

“They wanted to see some of the guys get in fights,” he said. “(Hockey fans) are few and far between down here.”

Wichita State finishes second in MVC track

Sun, 12 May 2013 19:21 CDT

Wichita State’s women’s track and field team finished second by 1.5 points to Indiana State in the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships in Des Moines.

Indiana State finished with 166.5 points, ahead of two-time defending champion WSU’s 165. The WSU men also finished second behind Indiana State. The Sycamores men totaled 198.5 points to WSU’s 168.5

WSU’s Tomas Cotter earned men’s Most Valuable Athlete honors after totaling 20 points. He won the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Sunday’s 1,500 with a time of 3 minutes, 50.02 seconds. Tanya Friesen totaled 30.75 points to win the women’s Most Valuable Athlete honor. She won the heptathlon, finished second in the long jump and third in the high jump.

Shockers avoid sweep, stay in MVC title race

Paul Suellentrop — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:49 CDT

Wichita State lessened its weekend of disappointment with a Sunday sigh of relief. Now the Shockers will root for Southern Illinois.

The Shockers defeated Creighton 4-1 at Eck Stadium to avoid a sweep and stay in second place in the Missouri Valley Conference behind Illinois State. The bottom of the order provided three of the runs and starter Garrett Brummett pitched six solid innings. Closer Brandon Peterson recorded his ninth save with 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

WSU (31-24, 15-6 MVC) trails Illinois State (13-5) and needs SIU to win at least one game from the Redbirds in the series starting Thursday in Carbondale. WSU is done with Valley play and one Illinois State loss clinches a tie for the title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. The Shockers now head into a week of non-conference play after they let their control of race slip away with a 6-5 loss Friday and a 3-1 loss Saturday.

Wichita State men, women lead at MVC track championship

Sun, 12 May 2013 08:10 CDT

Wichita State senior Tanya Friesen defended her title in the heptathlon Saturday at the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championship in Des Moines.

Friesen finished with 5,653 points, nearly 200 more than runner-up Paige Knodle of Northern Iowa. WSU’s Nikki Larch-Miller was third with 5,000 points. Friesen won two of the seven events and was second or third in the other five.

Wichita State’s Ashley Petersen won the high jump at 5 feet, 9 1/4 inches. Friesen finished third in the high jump and second in the long jump.

Wichita State’s Early drawing plenty of attention

Paul Suellentrop — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:11 CDT

Cleanthony Early’s performances in the NCAA Tournament are earning him a chance to play high-profile summer basketball.

He is considering invitations from the Nike Skills Academy, hosted by NBA star Kevin Durant, and from USA Basketball to try out for the World University Games.

“Two great opportunities,” Early said. “I’ve got to weigh the options.”

Wichita State losing its most enduring Valley baseball rival

Paul Suellentrop — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:49 CDT

Creighton-Wichita State is the baseball rivalry that produced perhaps the greatest College World Series game and the worst Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship.

That’s just the start: A no-hitter that didn’t “count.” A ridiculous bounce that helped decide an MVC title. Playing in snow at Rosenblatt Stadium. Christening TD Ameritrade Park with its first tournament.

The teams met 160 times before Sunday’s final game of a weekend series. It is the last time they will meet as Missouri Valley Conference opponents. While both coaches like the idea of continuing as non-conference opponents, it won’t be the same with less on the line.

Shockers fall flat in loss to Creighton

Paul Suellentrop — Sat, 11 May 2013 19:19 CDT

Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson summed up the game as quickly as possible and headed to the locker room to try to figure out a way to salvage something from this series.

We will find out Sunday if the lengthy post-game meeting helped. On Saturday, Creighton defeated WSU 3-1 to dump the Shockers out of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference and win its first series at Eck Stadium since 2003. The Bluejays will leave for the Big East with a bit of bragging rights over the Shockers, who traditionally dominated the series.

Not this weekend. So far, it’s all about Creighton’s pitching, its air-tight defense and Shocker mistakes.

Mistakes prevent Wichita State from gaining ground in MVC race

Paul Suellentrop — Sat, 11 May 2013 07:16 CDT

Wichita State’s 6-5 loss to Creighton isn’t a disaster, because the Shockers got help and remain in first place in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Maybe the Shockers will feel that way by Saturday afternoon when the series resumes. On Friday night, the result felt like a near-total collapse of starting pitching, defense and clutch hitting.

WSU didn’t play like a team on the verge of clinching a title until it was too late. Creighton took a 6-3 lead on a series of Shocker giveaways in the middle innings and held off a ninth-inning rally.

Wichita State baseball plays last Valley series with goals in mind

Paul Suellentrop — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:47 CDT

Whether or not coach Gene Stephenson believes it, Wichita State is the Missouri Valley Conference’s most consistent baseball team.

The Shockers are in first place, by a few percentage points, because they are the only MVC team that hasn’t lost a weekend series. They are a sparkling 8-1 on the road, including two conference sweeps. One more good weekend and WSU can clinch at least a share of the regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the MVC Tournament. The Shockers play fourth-place Creighton at Eck Stadium and a sweep guarantees all that.

“The mission is to go 3-0, but we’ve got to worry about Friday first and we can’t look ahead because that gets minds in other places,” center fielder Taylor Doggett said.

Both Wichita State track teams eyeing MVC titles

Paul Suellentrop — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:18 CDT

Wichita State’s men’s track and field team should compete for the conference title this weekend, in large part because of its distance runners.

Senior Jake Wike waited a long time for that feeling.

He is thrilled his running mates are expected to perform at the Missouri Valley Conference championships in Des Moines. Early in his career, the men’s distance runners played little role in the team’s successes and stood far behind its dominant counterparts on the women’s team.

Wichita State doubles partners find solid middle ground

Paul Suellentrop — Thu, 09 May 2013 06:23 CDT

Matheus Pereira needed to show some patience. Tin Ostojic needed to grow up. By the spring, they met in the middle and formed a strong men’s doubles team for Wichita State.

“Matheus is more consistent than me,” Ostojic said. “I’m a little more playful. So when you put those two things together, I get more consistency and he gets more of doing stuff he wouldn’t do when playing with someone else.”

Pereira, a senior from Brazil, and Ostojic, a freshman from Croatia, didn’t mesh in the fall. Coach Brad Louderback gave them time apart. When he reunited them in the spring, the pairing sparked WSU to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament title and its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2010. They went 20-3 overall, 5-0 at No. 1 doubles.

KU baseball beats Wichita State, keeps NCAA tourney hopes in place

Paul Suellentrop — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:42 CDT

Kansas players talked about how big it is to beat Wichita State, and the question is: Why?

The reason isn’t going to make anybody in black and yellow happy. It isn’t because WSU is a heavy favorite or a national power — those days are past. It isn’t so much because of a rivalry. It’s because a loss to the Shockers represents a bad loss for a team trying to shore up its NCAA regional at-large resume.

That is where the programs are in 2013. Kansas defeated WSU 7-5 on Tuesday at Eck Stadium in front of a season-high crowd of 4,320. The Jayhawks felt relieved to avoid hurting their power ranking after they gave the Shockers chances to rally from a five-run deficit.