A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
May 7, 1989
The game: WSU 4-18, Creighton 3-3
The skinny: WSU clinches its third straight MVC title druing a sweep of Creighton. Mike McDonald hit his 17th home run.
The quote: “I’m proud of our guys because this one was tougher than perhaps any we’ve ever had before,” WSU coach Gene Stephenson.
WSU’s record: 53-10, 13-5 MVC
Big picture: WSU clinches the right to host the MVC Tournament at Eck Stadium.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
May 3, 1989
The skinny: Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin publicly reprimands WSU coach Gene Stephenson for remarks made to the media during a series at Bradley on April 22-23. Stephenson advocated WSU leaving the MVC after he was unhappy with the conference handling of games canceled by rain.
The quote: “I sincerely regret saying what I said, and I have felt badly ever since seeing my comments in print. I should not have expressed myself publicly – it’s a private matter,” WSU coach Gene Stephenson.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
April 28, 1989
The game: WSU 14, Kansas 0
The skinny: Mike McDonald and Pat Meares both drive in four runs. Mike Lansing scores three, drives in three and steals four bases.
The quote: “That’s my game, just get out and run. They weren’t even worried about holding me on base,” WSU shortstop Mike Lansing.
WSU’s record: 44-8
Big picture: WSU wins its sixth straight.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
April 26, 1989
The game: WSU 12, Oklahoma State 4
The skinny: WSU’s Bryant Winslow homers twice to drive in seven runs. Greg Brummett threw his fifth complete game of the season.
The quote: “To go with (Brummett) for 130 or 140 pitches, they must have thought this was a very important game,” OSU coach Gary Ward.
WSU’s record: 43-8
Big picture: WSU defeats OSU for the fifth time in seven games at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
April 25, 1989
The game: WSU 17, Kansas State 5
The skinny: Mike McDonald, Pat Meares, P.J. Forbes and Mike Lansing homer for WSU. Meares hit his first grand slam.
The quote: “I enjoy coming out there and playing these guys in the middle of the week,” WSU shortstop Mike Lansing.
WSU’s record: 42-8
Big picture: WSU improves to 62-30 against Big Eight teams under Stephenson.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
April 22-23, 1989
The game: WSU 14-4, Bradley 3-0
The skinny: WSU wins two in Peoria and two games are lost to rain, causing WSU coach Gene Stephenson to blast Bradley, the MVC and express his desire to leave the conference. Stephenson felt the games were canceled too hastily. He accused Bradley coach Dewey Kalmer of trying to avoid playing to avoid losing to WSU.
The quote: “As far as I’m concerned, they can have their league without Wichita State. We don’t need to be in a league that doesn’t want to compete and compete on a national level.” WSU coach Gene Stephenson.
WSU’s record: 41-8
Big picture: WSU remained No. 5 in the Baseball America poll.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
April 20, 1989
The game: WSU 9, Kansas 2
The skinny: The Jayhawks commit four errors, walk 11 batters and throw four wild pitches. Mike McDonald hits a three-run home run.
The quote: “Tonight we won, but we haven’t been playing like we are capable,” WSU coach Gene Stephenson.
WSU’s record: 39-8
Big picture: WSU starts a seven-game win streak.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
April 16, 1989
The game: WSU 26-4, Illinois State 3-6
The skinny: Illinois State’s Dave Wyss hit a grand slam off reliever Jim Newlin in the fifth inning of the second game. Wyss also caught a foul ball by Mike McDonald to end the game with the bases loaded. In the first game, WSU scored 10 runs in the first inning. P.J. Forbes and Eric Wedge homered.
The quote: “We’ve dug ourselves deeper in the hole in the first two weeks than we’ve ever been before. We can still win the league, but we’re going to have to believe and have to compete,” WSU coach Gene Stephenson.
WSU’s record: 38-7, 4-4 MVC
Big picture: WSU dropped into a four-way tie for second in the MVC and faced eight of its remaining 12 conference games on the road. Outfielder Jeff Bonacquista broke his left kneecap in the final inning of the seventh game and was lost for the season.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
April 12, 1989
The game: WSU 3, Nebraska 0
The skinny: WSU pitcher Greg Brummett held the Huskers to four hits and struck out 10. Eric Wedge and Mike Jones homered.
The quote: “Greg had an excellent night tonight. It seemed like he knew where every pitch was going before he threw it. He was just kind of in a state of Nirvana, I guess.” WSU catcher Eric Wedge.
WSU’s record: 36-5
Big picture: WSU won its seventh straight over Nebraska.
A series of “This Day in History” posts from Wichita State’s 1989 College World Series championship team.
April 8, 1989
The game: WSU 13, Indiana State 3
The skinny: WSU’s Jim Audley hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to run-rule the Sycamores.
The quote: “It was the other coaches that wanted it. But what I want and what I get are not always the same thing,” WSU coach Gene Stephenson on the MVC’s run-rule policy.
WSU’s record: 33-3
Big picture: WSU won its MVC opener.