Elam strikes out six, leads shocker baseball over sycamores on Friday

Whether it’s in relief or starting, Cale Elam is a difficult pitcher to hit against.

Elam (3-1) pitched seven innings, allowing no earned runs and struck out six batters and the Wichita State Shockers (17-14, 3-1 Missouri Valley Conference) took the first game of the series over the Indiana State Sycamores (12-12, 3-4 MVC), 4-1.

“Cale Elam wasn’t perfect. I thought he battled when he went through some tough times. I thought he pitched awfully well and deserved the shutout,” WSU coach Gene Stephenson said.

Elam got the better of Indiana State starter Devin Moore as the two battled for the first five innings.

During his first two years, Elam allowed just four extra base hits as a reliever. This year, he finds himself in the starting rotation. At first, it wasn’t an easy transition, but the junior now has 26 strikeouts in his last six starts.

“I progressively got better and figured a few things out,” Elam said. “I think part of it is getting in a routine. Brent (Kemnitz) had talked to me before and said, ‘You’ve  got to look at it like you’re closing every single inning even if you are starting just go right at them.’ ” 

It hasn’t been pretty on offense for the Sycamores. As a team they are batting .230 and .177 last five games.

It’s especially been frustrating for ISU coach Rick Heller who thought his team had gotten over that mental hump with two comeback victories over Missouri State and Purdue.

“The thing that disappointed me was I didn’t feel like we battled very hard with two strikes. I felt like we chased a lot of pitches we weren’t very disciplined,” Heller said.

WSU took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on Johnny Coy’s two out, two run single. It was a welcome sight for Coy who was unable to get that big hit with the bases loaded twice on Tuesday night against Arizona State.

“I was excited to get another chance. Baker had the walk to load the bases and I was excited to be a huge part of the game,” Coy said. “It was a time where we could get a couple of runs and try to establish ourselves a little lead. I got a pretty good pitch and was able to get a couple of runs on it.”

Elam got himself out of trouble when he struck out Tyler Wampler for the final out of the sixth inning with two men on base— Elam pumped his fist into his glove in excitement as he walked off the mound.

ISU scored its only run of the game when Robby Ort advanced home on a passed ball in the sixth inning.

Dayne Parker and Joe Haddox both scored on bases loaded walks in the sixth inning to take a 4-1 lead.