TERRE HAUTE, IN ? The Indiana State baseball team will host the Wichita State University Shockers for three games this weekend as the Sycamores seek to remain in the hunt for a spot in the post-season Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Indiana State (12-24 overall and 5-7 in the Valley) lost 2-of-3 games at Evansville last weekend and then split in non-conference play during the week, beating Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday and then losing at Indiana on Wednesday.
Wichita State (31-8 overall and 9-3 in the MVC), ranked fifth in the nation, took 2-of-3 games against Southern Illinois last weekend, defeating Kansas on Tuesday and losing at #18 Oklahoma State on Wednesday.
It will be 1983 MVC Champions Day on Friday as the Sycamores and Shockers battle in a 6 p.m. (ET) start. Indiana State will welcome back the coaches and members of the 1983 ISU baseball team that won the Missouri Valley Conference and advanced to the Mideast Regional.
Tentative starters for the game will be Michael Manus (1-6) for Indiana State and Rob Musgrave (5-1) for Wichita State.
Saturday is Little League Day at Sycamore Field with any child wearing his or her Little League shirt receiving free admission into the game. Game time is 1 p.m. (ET) with tentative starters Matt Shelton (3-4) for the Sycamores and Aaron Shafer (6-2) for the Shockers.
Sunday is Senior Citizens Day at the ISU ballpark with anyone age 65 or older admitted free into the game. Game time is 1 p.m. (ET) with tentative starters Micah Spencer (2-3) for ISU and Anthony Capra (7-0) for WSU.
The Shockers have won the last eight meetings against the Sycamores and lead the overall series 82-31.
MVC Leader - Brady Shoemaker is tied for first in the Missouri Valley Conference with 47 RBIs. He shares the lead with Missouri State's Ben Carlson. Wichita State's Conor Gillaspie and Creighton's Steve Winkelmann have 43 each.
Josh Varno is third in the league with 17 pitching appearances this season. Creighton's Pat Venditte has seen action in 24 games to lead the Valley.
Clay Kovac has the distinction of being among the league leaders in hit batsmen. The Sycamore right hander has hit 11 batters, tying him with Evansville's Zach Taylor. Missouri State's Buddy Baumann has hit 12 batters.
In Conference Only statistics, Pascual Del Real is fifth in on base percentage at .509, Brady Shoemaker third in RBI's with 18, Michael Manus fifth in opposing batting average at .209 and tied for fourth in hits allowed at 18, Brian Oliver tied for third in saves with two and fifth in walks allowed at six, and Matt Shelton second in hit batters with seven
Pacing The Offense - Chris Schmidt leads the team with a .349 batting average, 30 runs scored, 152 at bats, 169 total plate appearnaces, 53 hits, 12 stolen bases and 14 stolen base attempts. He is one of just three players who have been in all 35 ISU games this year along with Pascual Del Real and Brady Shoemaker.
Shoemaker leads the team in slugging percentage (.556), doubles (12), triples (3), home runs (5), total bases (77) and runs batted in (47).
Leaning Into It - Pascual Del Real has been hit 12 times while batting to lead the Sycamores. Brady Shoemaker has been hit 11 times and David Brumagin eight.
