Final: WSU 8, SIU 3. WSU wins its 13th straight MVC series. Gillaspie drove in three runs. Coleman and Bascue two each.
In other news, Tim Kelley will be moved back to Wednesday to face Oklahoma State. Tyler Fleming or Justin Kemp will start Tuesday against Kansas. Kelley earned the shot to face the Cowboys, plus KU has already seen him. The Shocker bullped pitched 1 1/3 innings over the weekend, so it is fully ready to help out in the mid-week.
WSU 8, SIU 1 after six: Bret Bascue drove in two more with a single to left. Dirks has scored three runs. Capra still pitching for WSU. He has retired 10 straight entering the inning.
WSU 5, SIU 1, after four: Andy Dirks records WSU’s first extra-base hit of the series with a double off the top of the wall. He scored on a double by Gillaspie. Kenny Williams, who hustled out an infield single, should have scored from first on Gillaspie’s blast to left. He did not, and Gene Stephenson aired him out a third.
WSU 3, SIU 1, after three: Conor Gillaspie bounces a two-RBI single into left to give WSU a 2-1 lead. He then steals second and broke for third, moving the shortstop, to allow Dusty Coleman to bounce one into the hole and score another run.
Tyler Hill goes back to first base after a day off for the Shockers. Bret Bascue will DH. SIU is going with right-hander Andrew Dunn instead of right-hander David Kington as its starter. Dunn is 2-4 with a 3.37 ERA. Opponents are hitting .301 against him. He has 12 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings.
Here’s my thought on the rest of the week: Tim Kelley should flip with Clint Maune and start Wednesday at OSU. Kelley proved himself, in my mind, at Nebraska. WSU’s bullpen should be rested and ready to help out Tuesday. Or, maybe it’s time to think about starting Tyler Fleming. WSU’s weekend starters eat up so many innings, Fleming may not be as crucial as he once was. He started at Cowley and has thrown more than four innings twice this season in relief. Are you getting maximum production out of his arm on the weekends? Can the bullpen work without him? We’ll see if there is any enthusiasm for these moves from WSU coaches.
While we’re waiting, here’s a column from the Topeka Capitol-Journal on why minor-league baseball didn’t work in Wichita. Shocker fans take the hit.