Box Score

WICHITA, Kan.- No. 9 Wichita State (41-14) and South Alabama (25-21) battled back and forth, but the Jaguars managed one more run in the sixth inning to top the Shockers, 7-6.

The game was knotted 6-6 at the end of five innings, but Southern Alabama pushed one across in the top of the sixth to take the final lead. Reliever Kyle Touchatt hit Bill Kleinschrodt with a pitch and the runner advanced on a single from Ben Daw. Russel Harben sacrificed the ball to right field to bring in the winning run.

Daw was caught stealing to end the inning and Touchatt retired the Jaguars in order in the seventh. Eric Shortell reached third after a lead-off walk in the eighth and Sean Laird lined a double into left field in the ninth, but the Shockers held the South Alabama at seven runs as Ronnie Morales and Jared Simon combined to strikeout three of the six batters they faced.

The Shockers also threatened in late innings with Andy Dirks leading off the seventh with a single and making it to third and Dusty Coleman reaching second with two outs on a single followed by a walk in the eighth. Wichta State couldn't manage to cross the runs however, and went down quietly in order in the bottom of the ninth.    

WSU was on the board first as Damon Sublett drew a one-out walk and advanced to second via an error by USA pitcher Stephen Boyd on a failed pick-off attempt. Matt Brown placed one in shallow right field to drive the run in before Derek Schermerhorn grounded into a double play.

The Jaguars tied it in their next at bat. Jeff Cunningham hit his 19th homerun of the year, a blast over the left field wall on a 2-2 count.

The Shockers regained the lead, 3-1, in the bottom of the third after the bases were loaded on three consecutive walks. Brown hit a sacrifice fly to center, crossing Coleman, and Schermerhorn snuck one through the left side, plating Dirks.

South Alabama responded with a five-run fourth inning. Cunningham was on board with a walk for a Ryne Jernigan two-run homer over left-center field. Coleman made a diving stop to keep Michael Cart's single in the infield, but then over threw Schermerhorn at first, allowing the runner to reach second. A Kleinschrodt single scored Cart and an error on Touchatt put runners at second and third. Harben singled to left field, capping the inning with two runs, making it 6-3.

WSU game back to even the score in the fifth. Coleman led off the bottom half with a double off of the right field wall. Sublett singled up the middle to drive in Coleman and then scored himself on a triple to deep center field by Brown. The junior right fielder was able to cross on a sacrifice fly by Schermerhorn.

Brown ended the night going 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI. Coleman was the only other Shocker with a multiple-hit game. The freshman shortstop went 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk.

Touchatt (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk in four innings. Starter Max Hutson gave up four earned runs on five hits and two walks over 3.1 innings of work.

The two teams complete the two-game series Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Eck Stadium.

-Wichita State-