Wichita State - Fullerton: Capra makes it 5

By Jeffrey Lutz - May 13, 2007

WSU starter Anthony Capra just made it through the fifth. He escaped a jam he created by walking the first two batters, but both were stranded and he kept the Shockers' 5-0 lead.

Fullerton dimmed its chances of a big inning with a failed sacrifice, when No. 8 hitter Billy Pinkerton popped his bunt to catcher Tyler Weber. My philosophy is to not sacrifice bunt when trailing by five runs, but Titans coach George Horton didn't ask my opinion. Maybe he should have. Why make intentional outs when the chance for a big inning is there?

Capra's day is probably over, but he gave the Shockers everything he asked. He threw around 80 pitches, a lot for someone who is used to pitching from the bullpen. Capra took the No. 3 starting job when Aaron Shafer was hurt earlier this month. Shafer was the Missouri Valley Conference freshman and pitcher of the year last season, but he hasn't been quite as good this year and is now close to returning after missing time because of elbow discomfort. The Shocker coaching staff is very careful with its pitchers, which I highly admire, so they won't bring back Shafer until he is absolutely ready.

The job of keeping the lead will now be handed to reliever Kyle Touchatt, who has had an incredible senior year after being up and down for his first three seasons. This year he's become one of WSU's most reliable bullpen arms, so the Shockers appear to be in good hands. Don't count out the Titans just yet, though. They've had a few big innings this series and could be primed for another.