Baseball | 3/5/2021 6:44:00 PM

 
Bunt defense is not glamorous and it won't star in many highlight videos.
 
When it matters, however, it really matters. That is exactly what Wichita State coach Eric Wedge often tells the Shockers and why that fundamental work is part of the routine.
 
"Sometimes you have to save the game in the eighth inning," Wedge said after Friday's 2-1 win over Dixie State at Eck Stadium.
 
Bunt defense did its job. 
 
"It's something we work on every day," reliever Aaron Haase said. "Wedge tell us it probably won't happen every day, but when it does it might win you a ball game. He is very right about that."
 
Haase wiggled out of an eighth-inning jam, starting with an acrobatic fielding play. Wedge went to him in a tight situation because he throws hard and also because he is quick and agile.
 
Protecting a one-run lead with two on and no outs, Haase zipped off the mound to grab a bunt. He jumped and turned to throw to third, a play initially called safe and changed after a replay review.
 
"He's our best athlete when it comes to our pitchers," Wedge said. If you saw the way he got off the mound and got to the baseball – most people don't do that."
 
Although Haase made the decision Wedge wanted by throwing to third, Wedge wasn't confident about winning the replay. Neither was catcher Ross Cadena. Haase didn't see the play end as he spun and landed on the turf.
 
"I wasn't sure," Wedge said. "Obviously, it was worth us taking a shot at it."
 
A double play ended the Dixie State (0-5) threat one pitch later.
 
The ninth also featured drama for Haase to work through. He left a fastball up to Lane Pritchard, who doubled to lead off the inning. Cade Spurlin bounced a ball just past Haase and off the resin bag. Shortstop Andrew Stewart handled the distraction, fielded the ball and threw to first, while Pritchard moved to third.
 
"It hit the resin bag and I was like 'dang, tough break,'" Haase said. "Then he ended up making that play. He's an outstanding middle infielder and it showed right there."
 
Haase struck out the No. 9 hitter and got Tyler Hollow to ground out to end the game and strand the tying run at third.
 
"I like it when he's aggressive and down in the zone," Wedge said. "He has a quick arm. He can climb over the plate."
 
Haase is a bundle of energy on the mound, working fast and throwing hard with a helter-skelter presence. In his last Eck Stadium appearance, he gave up three runs in two innings to take the loss in a 9-7 defeat to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
 
Wedge wanted to refresh his mind at Oral Roberts and did. Haase earned a save with a scoreless inning in a 3-0 win on Tuesday.
 
"As a bullpen guy, you've got to be able to wash your bad stuff away," Haase said. "Wedge has helped a lot with that, having a short memory. Being encouraging and encouraging that mindset where you don't let it hang around."
 
Catcher Ross Cadena works with Haase to focus his energy in the right place. 
 
"He has electric stuff," Cadena said. "The biggest thing is slowing himself down. Controlling his heartbeat, and that allows him to be the best Haase he can be."
 
Haase uses breathing on the mound to calm himself, often taking a moment to step off and give himself a moment.
 
"I do get amped up quite a bit," he said. "If I let that take over, then I'm not going to be able to focus and execute pitches. Controlling that is really essential."
 
On Friday, that Haase was good enough to navigate some drama and help the Shockers (4-3) win their third straight game. 
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.