WICHITA, Kan. -- Wichita State’s Jordan Cooper out-dueled Missouri State’s Mike Kickham Friday night at Eck Stadium as the Shockers (33-17, 14-5 Missouri Valley Conference) defeated the Bears (18-29, 4-12) by a 3-0 final in the opener of a three-game series in Wichita.

    Both hurlers went the distance, combining for 24 strikeouts. Cooper (8-2) allowed six hits and fanned 14 without issuing a walk. Kickham (4-7) struck out 10, reaching double figures in strikeouts for the fourth time this season and moving into ninth place in MSU history with 92 on the season. He also allowed six hits but walked five.

    The Shockers got a two-out, two-run homer from Preston Springer in the first and a one-out RBI triple from Cody Lassley in the third before each pitcher put up zeros for the remainder of the contest.

    The Bears stranded four runners in scoring position and came feet from tying it in the eighth when Kevin Medrano’s bid for a three-run homer fell into Ryan Jones’ glove on the warning track in right for the third out.

    Medrano did extend his hitting streak to 29 games with a fourth-inning single. Travis McComack and Aaron Conway each went 2-for-4.   

    The teams meet again at 2 p.m. Saturday.