Wichita State ends losing streak with win over Kansas State

Mid-week games are a test of pitching depth, which certainly isn’t Wichita State’s strength.

Sam Hilliard provided a one-man fix for the problem in Tuesday’s 11-5 win over Kansas State at Eck Stadium. Given plenty of run support early in the game, Hilliard held the Wildcats to four hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings, the longest outing by a starter since March 21.

“That’s huge for my confidence,” he said. “I wanted to go seven innings. After the sixth, Coach (Brent) Kemnitz told me I was coming out. I said ‘Hey, Coach let me keep going. I feel great.’ He said ‘Heck yes, I like that.’”

WSU (19-29) stopped a three-game skid in which it scored six runs in losses at No. 13 Missouri State. The Shockers beat Kansas State (23-25) for the first time since 2012, stopping a streak of six losses to the Wildcats, and gaining a bit of revenge for a 5-4 loss on April 14 at Kansas State. The Wildcats celebrated their game-winning hit with a dog-pile on the infield and the Shockers took a bit of offense.

“It feels really good to beat them after that,” Hilliard said. “This is a pretty big one.”

WSU coach Todd Butler got his first win over an in-state rival in his eighth game against Kansas State or Kansas.

“Both are very good programs,” he said. “It’s good to get over that hump and break a barrier. It’s important for recruiting and it’s important for our team.”

Earlier this season, WSU blew an 11-6 lead and lost to KU 13-12. It lost at Kansas State after leading 4-0. In those games, WSU pitching failed to shut down the big inning. WSU’s outfield defense helped in the first with diving catches by center fielder Daniel Kihle and left fielder Mikel Mucha to let Hilliard settle in. In the third, he gave up two runs before choking off Kansas State’s rally by striking out cleanup hitter Tyler Moore with two runners on.

“It could have killed our momentum,” Hilliard said.

Hilliard fell behind Moore 2-0 before evening the count with two fastballs.

“I knew I had to make a pitch,” he said. “I was feeling really good with my changeup, so I threw a changeup in the dirt and he swung over it.”

Hilliard, a junior lefty, retired the Wildcats in order in the fourth and worked around an error by striking out the side in the fifth. A double play helped him face the minimum in the sixth and he got two outs in the seventh before consecutive singles ended his night. Willie Schwanke went 7 1/3 innings on March 21 at Southern Illinois, his final start before a back injury ended his season, and WSU had to start rebuilding its rotation.

“When he has trouble, he’s up in the zone,” Butler said. “When he’s down in the zone with his changeup and his cutter, he can be successful. Tonight is boost for his confidence.”

WSU’s offense resumed its surge that was interruped by Missouri State’s pitching staff. The Shockers battered five pitchers for 15 hits, taking a 6-0 lead after two innings and adding on. Third baseman Chase Rader went 3 for 4. Second baseman Tanner Kirk hit a three-run home run and went 2 for 4. Shortstop Trey Vickers scored two runs and went 3 for 3.

Errors by Wildcats left fielder Danny Krause handed WSU two runs in the second inning and helped in a two-run third. A throwing error by catcher Tyler Moore in the third turned Trey Vickers’ sacrifice bunt into a run.

Hilliard started WSU’s hitting with a double in the first inning and the Shockers squared up balls most of the night. Gunnar Troutwine drove in Hilliard with a single to center. In the second, two walks and a single loaded the bases and Kihle singled in two runs for a 3-0 lead. Rader smacked a ball to left that rolled under Krause’s glove and scored three runs.

In the third, Kirk and Keenan Eaton singled and Vickers bunted toward third. Moore hustled to grab the ball and threw wide of first base. Kirk scored from second on the error. Vickers scored when Ryan Tinkham lined to Krause, who dropped the ball, and gave WSU an 8-2 lead.

Kirk’s second home run of the season bumped WSU’s lead to 11-2 in the sixth.

The Wildcats cut WSU’s lead to 6-2 in the top of the third. Hilliard hit the leadoff batter and then retired the next two on six pitches. But he walked leadoff hitter Tyler Wolfe and hit Max Brown. Shane Conlon’s single skipped past Tinkham at first to score two runs.

WP — Goshen. HBP — Dalrymple, Brown (by Hilliard), Rader (by Douglas). PB — Troutwine. Umpires — home, Charlie Clemons; first, Mark Wagers; third, Josh Schepis. T — 3:02. A — 4,598.

This story was originally published May 5, 2015 at 10:56 PM with the headline "Wichita State ends losing streak with win over Kansas State."