WICHITA, Kan. - Tyler Grimes hit a bases loaded two-run single to centerfield to give the Shockers a thrilling 7-6 win over the Kansas State Wildcats in 11 innings on Tuesday night in front of 6,722 fans at Eck Stadium.
The Shockers win improved their record to 32-24, 11-7 on the season and the loss dropped Kansas State to 31-21, 9-14 overall. The win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Wildcats in the series and was the first WSU home victory over KSU since 2006.
Grimes finished 2-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBI and Micah Green was 3-for-4 with two runs scored for WSU.
Wichita State's Drew Rainey earned his first victory of the season (1-0) and Kansas State Gerardo Esquivel took the loss for the Wildcats to fall to (0-2).
Grimes put the Shockers on the scoreboard in the first inning with his fifth home run of the season to put the Shockers up 1-0.
Walker Davidson, Johnny Coy and Kevin Hall each hit RBI singles in the second inning for the Shockers to push their lead to 4-0.
Jared King singled in his brother Jason in the sixth inning to put the Wildcats on the scoreboard at 4-1.
Preston Springer's ninth home run of the season gave the Shocks a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning.
Kansas State would cut the deficit to 5-2 in the sixth inning with a Ross Kivett sacrifice fly.
The Wildcats would tie the game the next inning with three runs, the last scored on a sacrifice fly by Jason King.
The game headed to extras and after a scoreless tenth the drama began in the 11th inning. Kansas State's Dan Klein drew a leadoff walk off of Shockers reliever Chance Sossamon. Klein would advance to third on a passed ball and a flyout by Jake Brown. Klein scored to put the Wildcats ahead 6-5 on another sacrifice fly by Kivett.
Wichita State answered in the bottom half of the inning. Don Lambert drew a one-out walk and stole second and Green singled to put runners on the corners for pinch hitter Chris O'Brien. O'Brien walked to load the bases and after a Dayne Parker strikeout Grimes came to bat for Wichita State. The Wichita native drilled a 1-0 pitch off of Jared Moore to score Lambert and Green to give the Shockers the victory.
The Shockers now return to Valley play this Thursday against Bradley at 6 p.m. and the game came be seen on Kansas 22. Wichita State trails league leader Creighton by one game heading into the final series of the regular season.
-WICHITA STATE-
