WICHITA, Kan. ≠ Senior Joe Muich singled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11^th inning to give Wichita State a 4-3 victory over Southern Utah. With the win, the Shockers improve to 4-0 on the season.

Blake Hurlbutt singled to lead off the 11^th and then stole second. Nick McCoola had an infield hit to advance Hurlbutt to third and then Muich singled into shallow center to win the game.

Reliever Noah Booth picked up his first win of the year pitching a perfect four innings while tying a career-high with seven strikeouts.

Southern Utah got on the board first in the fifth inning when catcher Mike Martin hit a two-run home run off of WSU starter Mike Pelfrey. The Shockers answered in the bottom of the fifth when Tyler Hill and Hurlbutt led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After a McCoola fielderπs choice advanced Hurlbutt to third, Muich picked up his first RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to left to put the Shockers on the board.

The Thunderbirds added another run in the seventh when they loaded the bases with no outs. Pelfrey got Martin to ground into a double play, but Jeff Oliverson scored from third to give SUU a 3-1 lead.

The Shockers tied the game at three in the eighth off of SUU closer Oliverson. Kenny Waddell and Damon Sublett both walked followed by a single by Derek Schermerhorn to bring home Waddell. Sublett scored on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Hall to tie the score at three.

Hurlbutt led the Shockers going 3-for-5 with a run, a double and two stolen bases. Muich had two RBI for the Shockers, while Schermerhorn and McCoola both added two hits.

The two teams will play on Sat., at 1 p.m. at Eck Stadium in game two of the three-game series.

-Wichita State-