I took another stroll down on the concourse and outside of the stadium, and it was a great sight to see. Fans were streaming into the stadium, with more strolling up to the ticket window. Already, we've got a bigger crowd seated than the last two games combined, and we still have plenty of time before the first pitch.

When you think of Missouri Valley baseball, it starts with the Shockers. Wichita has made the College World Series seven times, winning it all in 1989. They've dominated their home state, with huge series leads over Kansas and Kansas State. They have big series leads over every team in the Missouri Valley. Their closest in-conference series? If you go by margin of wins, it's Evansville (WSU leads 34-17). Percentage-wise, it's with Missouri State; a series that the Shockers lead 47-24.

Wichita State baseball is so popular that it's chased off the city's AA minor league baseball team (which is relocating to Springdale, Ark. next year). The reasoning, according to Shocker fans, is that most fans in Wichita wanted to see a guarenteed winner, and that was almost always the Shockers.

So the Shockers (46-17) come into this tournament like they do most tournaments: the top seed, a lock for the NCAA Tournament, and the target for everyone else who's there.

Missouri State had a rough season. REAL rough. A 14-game losing streak really took a blow to the team's morale, and MSU stumbled into this tournament with a 22-32 record, 7-17 in the conference. They are here only because they are the host team, but that's what makes this game intriguing. It's a new season for the Bears, and with projected MLB first-rounder Ross Detwiler on the mound and nothing to lose, this could be a fantastic game. Could the Bears win the tournament? Probably not. But a win tonight would be a successful tournament outing for the Bears.

So tonight's starting pitchers are the team's two aces. MSU goes with Detwiler, a southpaw who is 4-5 on the year with a 2.09 ERA. Wichita State will counter with junior Travis Banwart, a bulldog righty who finished the regular season 9-4 with a 2.34 ERA.

Although WSU is the home team tonight as the top seed, they're in their road gold uniforms, while MSU is wearing their home whites. I guess it's just easier for the fans that way.

The lineups are about to be announced, and we're set to go here at Hammons Field. Should be a GREAT one!