Drew Gagnon was mowing through Wichita State hitters and gave up just one unearned run through six innings while striking out 11. Then the wheels came off in the top of the seventh.

A leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt that turned into a fielder’s choice, putting two runners aboard, and a juicy 2-0 fastball that got driven over the fence for a three-run homer in right-center and the Dirtbags were doomed. 

#21 Wichita State (10-1) sent ten batters to the plate in their six-run seventh and LBSU (5-7) couldn’t get a runner past third all night as their struggles at the plate continue.

While Gagnon (2-2) was striking out WSU batters, Tim Kelley was making quick work of Dirtbag hitters too. Kelley (2-0) threw eight shutout innings, giving up just four hits, walking none and throwing only 88 pitches.

Two Dirtbag errors from Devin Lohman and Gagnon set up the first run. Then in the seventh, Wichita State catcher Cody Lassley, who came into the game leading the nation in batting average, slugging percentage and on base percentage, drilled the first pitch he saw from Gagnon in center field.

Travis Bennett tried to sacrifice him over to second but LBSU first baseman Steve Tinoco fielded it, wheeled, and fired to second trying to get Lassley but he beat the throw. LBSU head coach Mike Weathers said that was the play that was called from the dugout with the catcher on first and the Dirtbags got the hard bunt they hoped for but Lassley got a good jump with Tinoco charging.

With two on, and no one out Gagnon fell behind Ryan Jones 2-0 and grooved a fastball. Jones crushed it for a three-run homer and Gagnon and the Dirtbags never recovered. The Shockers pushed three more across via a pair of triples and walks, a base hit and a sacrifice fly.

Gagnon’s final numbers were curious. He surrendered six runs, five earned, in 6.1 innings pitched. He gave up just five hits – and none out of the infield – until the sixth while striking out 12 batters, five more than his previous career high, and one more than he had all season in three starts coming in.

The Shockers added another run in the eighth off of reliever Josh Corrales and Kenny Arnerich gave up a run in the seventh. Wichita came in averaging 10.7 runs per game the seventh highest number in the nation and they found just enough wiggle to room to break out.

LBSU has scored just 30 runs in nine games at Blair Field so far this season. That includes the nine they managed in a loss last Friday to Washington. They are just 3-6 at home so far, with two more games to go in this season-long, nine-game homestand. 

The Dirtbags and Shockers square off again Saturday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. LBSU starter Jake Thompson (1-0, 5.71 ERA) will face Wichita’s Jordan Cooper (2-0, 1.93 ERA).