We started with Wichita State and Southern Illinois in the must-win game of the day. As WSU scored 37 runs in a three-game sweep of the Salukis in the regular season, it was quite a surprise to have a pitcher's duel for 6 1/2 innings. Then the rains came. For three hours. Three LONNNNNNG hours. The rain washed away Gene Stephenson's fears and SIU's chances, as the Shocks went on a tear afterwards, and cruised to a 4-2 victory.

SIU has to be upset. It's never fun to be the first ones out. There is talent on the Saluki squad though, so don't expect Southern Illinois to suffer anytime soon. However, give Wichita State some serious credit. Today's game was definitely a test of mental fortitude, and the Shockers passed with flying colors. It's never easy to bounce back from a late night loss, especially one that everyone expected you to win, and for WSU to pull it off shows that this is a mentally tough squad, which means something in postseason play.

Next, we had Evansville and Missouri State in a slugfest. Well, most of that happened in the ninth inning. However, the play that decided the game (and might decide a team's fate in future games) is when Nolan Keane got the heave-ho for plowing into Aces C Kirk Bocsu. Evansville needed the dose of adrenaline, and they got it and ran with it, totally taking over what was a 3-1 Bears lead and turning it into a game that they would own.

I'd watch out for Evansville now. A team that wins on momentum is a team that comes into the next day that much more pumped. Wichita State will definitely have their hands full with the Purple Aces.

Finally, we had the speedy pitcher's duel, as Creighton gave Bradley a pitching clinic in a 2-0 win. CU has the enviable position of being the only team that knows it'll play on Saturday, while Bradley has the unenviable task of having to bounce back to play the first game of the day tomorrow; a showdown with Missouri State.

That leads us to our nightly awards...

TEAM OF THE NIGHT: Creighton
How can you go against the only undefeated team, especially after a two-hit shutout of Bradley? I sure can't.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE NIGHT: Jim Viscomi, Evansville
Viscomi goes 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, and there were a lot of great offensive players out there today, but I take Viscomi because of his overall threat. Viscomi's speed leads to mental mistakes, and MSU made a huge one when they let Viscomi tag home from third.

PITCHER OF THE NIGHT: Zak Moore, Creighton
Was there any doubt? He's the real deal, folks.

FAN OF THE NIGHT: Charlie Wisnowinski, Evansville
This guy defines what a true fan is all about. Armed with a plastic megaphone, he led an entire section in cheers. His voice carried above all others today, as we could easily hear him from the press box, and his avidness for Purple Aces baseball is something that all of us that have the privilege to cover college sports can appreciate.

NON-HUMAN PLAYER OF THE GAME: First base
Two grounders today hit the first base bag squarely. The results were 2-for-2, with a single and a triple, and 2 RBIs. Not a bad day for the bag.

And with that, we bid you good night from Springfield, where Wichita and Evansville survived, SIU exited, Missouri State and Bradley fell hard, and Creighton found its way into the driver's seat.