The RoundHouse | 5/16/2021 4:18:00 PM
By
Paul Suellentrop
Wichita State figured out how to score six runs and salvage a series split without much in the way of clutch hitting.
Or much hitting at all, really.
It didn't matter on Sunday, because the Shockers performed so well in other areas and USF bumbled around in the late innings. Wichita State rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat the Bulls 6-4 at Eck Stadium.
"The effort and the attitude today is what we like to see," coach
Eric Wedge said. "They came out and jumped on us quick. The first two pitches of the ball game left the ball park. That's not something that happens every day."
Credit the relievers for five strong innings and the defense for two sparkling plays. Credit starter
Gareth Stroh for rebounding after allowing two home runs and a double in the first inning. Debit the Bulls for three errors, plus a wild pitch and a passed ball that allowed runs to score.
The win keeps Wichita State (27-20, 15-12 American Athletic Conference) alone in third place with one conference weekend remaining. The Shockers are assured of a winning record in Wedge's first full season. They need one win against last-place Memphis to secure their first winning conference record in three seasons since joining the American in 2018.
If the Shockers are going to hit the big goal, they need to win the conference tournament to reach an NCAA regional. The Shockers can't win every game this way, but it's helpful to grab one when offered. Sunday's win shows they can do it in a lot of ways, and that ability and determination is necessary when navigating a double-elimination tournament.
"That's a whole team effort, coming back in a game like that," closer
Aaron Haase said. "It takes everybody."
On Sunday, Wichita State won despite managing only three singles and a bases-empty double. The Shockers stranded 11 runners, went 1 for 15 with runners on and 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
They fell behind 2-0 after two pitches and 4-1 in the fourth. Trailing 4-3, they loaded the bases with one out in the sixth and didn't score.
What they did do ruined the Bulls (22-24, 12-12), who had won five of six games entering Sunday. The Shockers manufactured three runs with all manner of small ball, execution and putting the ball in play. The Bulls helped with sloppy defense.
In the seventh, catcher
Ross Cadena doubled with one out. He scored on a wild pitch to tie it 4-all.
In the eighth,
Couper Cornblum led off by getting hit.
Seth Stroh, who homered earlier, bunted and reached when catcher Nelson Rivera tried a bare-handed pickup of the bouncing ball and failed. With one out,
Jack Sigrist bunted and reached after first baseman Jake Sullivan lofted his throw so high it pulled the pitcher covering off the base.
Cadena drove in Stroh with a sacrifice fly to give the Shockers a 5-4 lead.
Andrew Stewart, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on a passed ball for a two-run lead.
The defense came up big to support the hitters who struggled against the team with the American's best ERA in conference play.
Wichita State shut down the Bulls after the fourth inning with relievers L.J. McDonough and Haase combining to strike out seven and allow four hits over five innings.
Cornblum, in right field, connected with Cadena to throw out a runner at the plate to end the fifth inning. That play kept the deficit at one run and stranded two runners.
In the ninth, Stewart saved Haase a major headache by diving for a groundball with a runner on second. Stewart popped up, almost lost the grip on the ball, and threw out Nick Gonzalez at first.
"That helps me out a ton, just knowing that's what behind me," Haase said.
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
