WICHITA, Kan. ? Wichita State made sure Bradley will not win its Missouri Valley Conference weekend series for the first time this season in unlikely fashion, overcoming an early 11-3 deficit against three of Bradley's top pitchers for a 19-13 win in the second game of their 3-game set Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium.

With two-time All-MVC hurler Collin Walker on the mound, Bradley (19-17, 9-5) raced to an 11-3 lead in the first three innings.  Third baseman Paul Rice hit a 2-run home run in the first inning to put the Braves on the board and Bradley tacked on two more first-inning runs on Jason Newburger's RBI single and a wild pitch.

Freshman catcher Adam Kimble, who got the start in place of the injured Ryan Eigsti, hit his first home run of his career in the second inning to start a 5-run outburst.  Freshman second baseman Dan Brewer added a 2-run triple later in the inning and scored the fifth run on Peter Malinowski's RBI single as the Braves stretched their lead to 9-2.

Walker, who came into the game with a 1.04 earned run average in two previous starts against Wichita State, gave up two runs in the first and one more in the second before working a 1-2-3 third innings.  Walker walked leadoff man Derek Schermerhorn to start the fourth inning, however, and was lifted for freshman Collin Brennan.

Although Schermerhorn eventually came around to score on a ground out, Brennan (5-0) appeared to be cruising until the wheels came off for the entire Bradley pitching staff in the sixth inning.

Leading 12-4 going into the bottom of the sixth, Brennan retired Schermerhorn on a fly ball to open the home half, but the next seven Shockers reached base on a single, a double, two walks, an error and Damon Sublett's back-breaking grand slam home run.

Sublett's blow pulled Wichita State to within 12-11 and chased Brennan.  Michael Christl, who likely would have been Sunday's starter, replaced Brennan and promptly got a strike out for the second out of the inning.  Christl (2-3) gave up a walk and three straight hits, however, before finally ending the 10-run Shocker outburst with the Braves suddenly trailing 14-12.

Wichita State quickly added to its lead in the seventh, highlighted by a 3-run homer by Sublett for a 17-12 lead.  Sublett, who also had an RBI single in the first inning, finished 3-for-4 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, the eight runs batted in and four runs scored.

By taking the first two games of the series, Wichita State has assured Bradley will not win its Valley series for the first time in five sets this year.  The Braves, however, can maintain their spot on top of the league standings by salvaging the final game Sunday at 1 o'clock at Eck Stadium.  After using its top four starters ? Brandon Magee, Walker, Brennan and Christl ? in the first two games, however, the Braves likely will turn to regular midweek starter Rob Scahill to toe the rubber Sunday.  Scahill improved to 2-4 by tossing eight shutout innings in last Tuesday's 3-0 victory versus Saint Francis (Ill.).

By rallying for Saturday's victory, Wichita State extended its home winning streak against the Braves to 19 games.  Bradley has dropped 23 straight games overall at Eck Stadium, including four neutral-site losses to other Valley rivals in the MVC Tournament.