Chris O Brien

The Shocker's will be hunting for a new catcher next spring as Chris O'Brien signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers today, skipping his senior season. The Johnny Bench Award finalist and third-team All American was picked by the club in the 18th round of this year's MLB Draft. O'Brien was hitting .410 for Wichita State, with 25 doubles and ten home runs. O'Brien was one of seven Shockers to be draft following the season. Left handed pitcher Charlie Lowell signed with the Florida Marlins earlier and right handed pitcher Chance Sossaman signed with the Texas Rangers.

Wichita State junior catcher Chris O'Brien has been selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 554th overall pick in this year's Major League Baseball Draft.  O'Brien was taken in the 18th round. O'Brien hit .410 with 56 runs, 100 hits, 25 doubles, 10 home runs and 70 RBI.  He also finished the season on a 29-game hitting streak, which ranks fifth-best in Shocker history.   Chris is no stranger to awards this year.  He was named the Joe Carter Missouri Valley Conference player of the year this season and is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.  He also earned second team All America honors from Collegiate Baseball.

Starter Charlie Lowell struck out 10 in just over 6 innings while Kevin Hall and Chris O'brien each drove in three runs as the Shockers beat Southern Illinois 9-6 on Friday. 7 total runs were scored in the 2nd inning with the Shockers plating three of them.  Chris O'Brien and Don Lambert each recorded RBI's and Lambert scored on a throwing error. The Shockers put up another 3-spot in the 4th inning.  Kevin Hall started things off with a 2 RBI single to right center and Chris O'Brien came through again with runners in scoring position to give Wichita State a 6-4 lead.

No. 24 Oregon used one big inning to earn a 6-1 win over Wichita State and a split in the four-game series. Kevin Hall, Chris O'Brien, Tyler Coughenour, Micah Green and Walker Davidson each had a hit for the Shockers, while Coughenour drove in the lone run. Starter Charlie Lowell (4-3) took the loss. He went 5.2 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. Chris O'Brien blooped a double into shallow centerfield with one out in the sixth and then after a lineout, he came around to score on single by Tyler Coughenour to take a 1-0 lead.

Chris O'Brien's two-run home run in the 8th inning extended his hitting streak to 26 games and helped the Shockers secure a 7-3 victory over Indiana State. Brian Flynn was shaky at best in his first inning against the Sycamores, walking two batters and hitting one eventually giving up two runs in the frame.  Flynn would settle in after that giving up 3 earned runs in 5 innings of work and striking out four. The Shockers' offense didn't exactly get going in the fourth inning but it looked like it on the box score.  Three Indiana State errors allowed four Shocker runs to cross in the fourth despite Wichita State recording just one hit. The Shockers took a 5-3 lead into the 8th inning when catcher Chris O'Brien picked a great time to continue his hitting streak.  O'Brien absolutely tattooed a ball over the right field fence scoring two runs and giving the Shockers a somewhat comfortable 7-3 lead.

Wichita State scored two runs on an infield error by Bradley to win 8-6 and keep their hopes of a sweep alive. Kevin Hall hit a solo home run in the first inning to lead 1-0 before the Braves rallied to lead 5-1. WSU rallied back to trail 6-4 before Johnny Coy hit a two run home run in the 8th inning to tie the game 6-6. Chris O'Brien was the Shockers only hope of extending the ninth inning when his base loaded hit sailed to shortstop, but...

Zach Beringer will get the start tonight for Wichita State as the Shockers host Oral Roberts in a mid-week non-conference matchup.  Beringer is 2-3 on the season with a 4.34 ERA.   The Shockers beat Oral Roberts the first time around this season, 7-2, as part of Wichita State's 7-0 winning streak to start the season.  Speaking of streaks, Shockers' catcher Chris O'Brien has hit safely in 17 straight games and looks to...

Brian Flynn pitched a complete game 2-hitter while Tyler Coughenour drove in two runs as Wichita State beat Illinois State 6-1 in game two of the series. Wichita State put the first run of the game on the board in the 4th inning when Micah Green laid down a sacrifice squeeze bunt to bring home Don Lambert.  In the 5th inning the Shockers really opened up the scoring against the Redbirds.  With Tyler Grimes on third after a wild pitch, Kevin Hall doubled to left field bringing Grimes around to score.  Preston Springer's single to right would later bring Hall around to score and then Coughenour's double down the left field line brought home Springer and Chris O'brien.  That inning game the Shockers a 5-1 lead over Illinois State.  Johnny Coy's sacrifice fly in the 7th inning scored the final run for Wichita State.

Zach Beringer pitched 6 scoreless innings and Chris O'Brien extended his hitting streak to 28 straight games as the Shockers advanced to the championship game. The Shockers jumped all over Indiana State's pitching early with a 4-spot in the first inning.  O'Brien started it off with a double to right field scoring Tyler Grimes.  Johnny Coy, Don Lambert and Dayne Parker also all drove in runs to give Wichita State a solid early lead. O'Brien once again got the scoring started in the second inning with an RBI single to center field making it 5-0 Wichita State.  Preston Springer and Coy drove in a couple more runs as the Shockers took a 7-0 lead into the 7th inning.  The game was seemingly already in hand but the Shocks plated two more runs in the 7th as some insurance.

Wichita State stranded three runners in the final two innings, falling to Nebraska 5-4. The Shockers were down 4-0 into the bottom of the second inning when Johnny Coy finally put them on the board.  Coy cranked a home run to center field to make it a 4-1 Husker lead.  Coy would end up leading Wichita State going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI including that solo home run.  The Shockers added two more runs in the third inning to...

The Shocker's will be hunting for a new catcher next spring as Chris O'Brien signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers today, skipping his senior season. The Johnny Bench Award finalist and third-team All American was picked by the club in the 18th round of this year's MLB Draft. O'Brien was hitting .410 for Wichita State, with 25 doubles and ten home runs. O'Brien was one of seven Shockers to be draft following the season. Left handed pitcher Charlie Lowell signed with the Florida Marlins earlier and right handed pitcher Chance Sossaman signed with the Texas Rangers.

Wichita State junior catcher Chris O'Brien has been selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 554th overall pick in this year's Major League Baseball Draft.  O'Brien was taken in the 18th round. O'Brien hit .410 with 56 runs, 100 hits, 25 doubles, 10 home runs and 70 RBI.  He also finished the season on a 29-game hitting streak, which ranks fifth-best in Shocker history.   Chris is no stranger to awards this year.  He was named the Joe Carter Missouri Valley Conference player of the year this season and is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.  He also earned second team All America honors from Collegiate Baseball.

Zach Beringer pitched 6 scoreless innings and Chris O'Brien extended his hitting streak to 28 straight games as the Shockers advanced to the championship game. The Shockers jumped all over Indiana State's pitching early with a 4-spot in the first inning.  O'Brien started it off with a double to right field scoring Tyler Grimes.  Johnny Coy, Don Lambert and Dayne Parker also all drove in runs to give Wichita State a solid early lead. O'Brien once again got the scoring started in the second inning with an RBI single to center field making it 5-0 Wichita State.  Preston Springer and Coy drove in a couple more runs as the Shockers took a 7-0 lead into the 7th inning.  The game was seemingly already in hand but the Shocks plated two more runs in the 7th as some insurance.

Chris O'Brien's two-run home run in the 8th inning extended his hitting streak to 26 games and helped the Shockers secure a 7-3 victory over Indiana State. Brian Flynn was shaky at best in his first inning against the Sycamores, walking two batters and hitting one eventually giving up two runs in the frame.  Flynn would settle in after that giving up 3 earned runs in 5 innings of work and striking out four. The Shockers' offense didn't exactly get going in the fourth inning but it looked like it on the box score.  Three Indiana State errors allowed four Shocker runs to cross in the fourth despite Wichita State recording just one hit. The Shockers took a 5-3 lead into the 8th inning when catcher Chris O'Brien picked a great time to continue his hitting streak.  O'Brien absolutely tattooed a ball over the right field fence scoring two runs and giving the Shockers a somewhat comfortable 7-3 lead.

Six Wichita State baseball student-athletes earned all-Missouri Valley Conference honors. Four were named to the first team, while two earned second team honors. Those named to the first team include Chris O'Brien at catcher, Johnny Coy at first base, Preston Springer as the designated hitter and Charlie Lowell at starting pitcher. The two named to the second team were Tyler Grimes at shortstop and Cale Elam at relief pitcher. Two Shockers also earned specialty awards. Junior Chris O'Brien was named Joe Carter Missouri Valley Conference Player-of-the-Year, while Charlie Lowell earned MVC Pitcher-of-the-Year honors.

Wichita State scored two runs on an infield error by Bradley to win 8-6 and keep their hopes of a sweep alive. Kevin Hall hit a solo home run in the first inning to lead 1-0 before the Braves rallied to lead 5-1. WSU rallied back to trail 6-4 before Johnny Coy hit a two run home run in the 8th inning to tie the game 6-6. Chris O'Brien was the Shockers only hope of extending the ninth inning when his base loaded hit sailed to shortstop, but...

Tyler Grimes hit a bases loaded two-run single to centerfield to give the Shockers a thrilling 7-6 win over the Kansas State Wildcats in 11 innings on Tuesday night in front of 6,722 fans at Eck Stadium. The Shockers win improved their record to 32-24, 11-7 on the season and the loss dropped Kansas State to 31-21, 9-14 overall. Grimes finished 2-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBI and Micah Green was 3-for-4 with two runs scored for WSU. Wichita State's Drew Rainey earned his first victory of the season (1-0)

Wichita State catcher Chris O'Brien has passed a first round of cuts for the Johnny Bench Award watch list.  The award is given annually to the most outstanding catcher in college baseball. So far this season the Shockers' junior catcher is hitting .408 with 59 RBI.  O'Brien has the 2nd best batting average on the narrowed-down list and he has recorded the most RBI as well as the most doubles. The Johnny Bench award will be given out on June 30th of this year at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Wichita.  Former Lousiana State University coach and athletic director Skip Bertman will be this year's guest speaker.

Zach Beringer will get the start tonight for Wichita State as the Shockers host Oral Roberts in a mid-week non-conference matchup.  Beringer is 2-3 on the season with a 4.34 ERA.   The Shockers beat Oral Roberts the first time around this season, 7-2, as part of Wichita State's 7-0 winning streak to start the season.  Speaking of streaks, Shockers' catcher Chris O'Brien has hit safely in 17 straight games and looks to...

Creighton used a five-run fifth inning to take a lead they never relinquished in a 7-5 win against Wichita State Saturday in a Missouri Valley Conference baseball game at Eck Stadium. Left fielder Micah Green led the Shockers with two RBI and hit 2-for-3 for the Shockers, who scored three of their runs in the first four innings. Wichita State fell to 8-6 in conference play and 29-22 overall. League-leader Creighton improved to 32-11 overall and 10-4 in the Valley. Chris O'Brien and Johnny Coy also recorded two hits for Wichita State in the second game of a three-game series with Creighton.