Box Score

WICHITA, Kan. -  A five-run fifth inning proved to be too much for Wichita State to overcome as the Shockers fell to the Kansas Jayhawks 7-5 on Tuesday night at Eck Stadium. Garrett Bayliff led the Shockers offensively going 3-for-5 with a double and Micah Green homered for the first time this season.

The Jayhawks started the scoring in the first inning when Jordan Dreiling's bloop single scored Michael Suiter for an early 1-0 lead. Kansas had an opportunity to score another run in the first but Wichita State third baseman Tanner Kirk fielded a high chopper and threw out Justin Protacio at the plate.

Wichita State evened the score in the second inning when Taylor Doggett and Tanner Dearman drew back-to-back walks that allowed Erik Harbutz to score. Harbutz singled with one out and advanced to second on Kirk's single to right field before Doggett and Dearman drew the game tying walks.

Green gave the Shockers a 2-1 lead after he crushed his first homerun of the season off the scoreboard in left field.

Kansas broke open the game in the fifth by scoring five runs on three hits for a 6-2 advantage. Connor McKay highlighted the five run fifth with a three-run triple to deep center field. Protacio scored for the second time in the game on a single through the left side of the infield by Suiter that tied the game at 2-2 and a throwing error by catcher Tyler Baker allowed Kevin Kuntz to score the go-ahead run before McKay's three RBI triple.

The Shockers threatened to score in the bottom half of the fifth inning after Bayliff led off with a double and Baker singled to left. Green was hit by a pitch with one out to load the bases but Kansas starter, Tanner Poppe struck out Erik Harbutz and Tanner Kirk to maintain a four-run lead and end the Shocker threat.

Back-to-back singles from Suiter and Alex DeLeon started the seventh inning for the Jayhawks but a power outage that caused all of the field lights to shut off delayed the remainder of the inning for 20 minutes. Kansas would score one run on a sacrifice fly from Dakota Smith after the delay to take a 7-2 lead.

Wichita State cut into the five-run Jayhawk lead in the seventh inning after Bayliff scored on Green's groundout to third base and Harbutz sacrifice fly scored Baker to put the Shockers within three runs, 7-4.

In the eighth inning, Doggett tripled to right field and scored on Tanner Dearmen's fly out to center field that was caught by a diving Tucker Tharp to cut the deficit to 7-5. But Kansas closer, Jordan Piche' retired the Shockers in order in the ninth to preserve the win for the Jayhawks.

The Shockers are next in action in Eck Stadium on May 10 when they take on the Creighton Bluejays in their MVC finale at 6:30 p.m.

-WICHITA STATE-