The RoundHouse | 3/20/2022 2:35:00 PM
Â
Brock Rodden reminds coach
Eric Wedge of the prototypical Shocker infielders of the past – a Mark Standiford, a P.J. Forbes – those who excelled with an intensity and hustle that amplifies their physical tools.
Â
"I love the way he plays the game," Wedge said. "He's in the dirt with every pitch, whether it be at home plate or in the field. He's hard-nosed. He epitomizes what Shockers are."
Â
Rodden, a sophomore second baseman, is giving Wedge lots of reasons to enjoy his work at the plate this season. He went 3 for 4 with a home run in Sunday's 13-7 win over New Mexico at Eck Stadium to cap a 12-for-25 stretch that raised his batting average to .320.
Â
He leads Wichita State (9-10) with six home runs, three in the past four games. He drove in 10 runs in the past four games, giving him a team-leading 21.
Â
Shocker hitters are on notice to be more aggressive and Rodden's recent success shows the value of that mind-set. He is thinking hitting the ball up the middle with enough height to clear outfielders. And he wants to do it early in the count when he has an advantage.
Â
"I've been taking too many fastballs that are good pitches to hit," he said. "My approach is really to stay on my legs and try to hit homers to center field. Dead center. Not high launch angle, but good-enough launch angle to get an extra-base hit."
Â
Â
Finding that balance between expecting to swing, while remaining under control with the ability to lay off bad pitches is the goal. Ultimately, Wedge wants his hitters loaded up and ready.
Â
"We want all of our guys to be a little bit more aggressive," Wedge said. "It's a 'Yes, yes, yes, no' attitude. We're swinging until the pitch tells us otherwise. We have to hunt the baseball."
Â
He pointed to centerfielder
Chuck Ingram as another Shocker under those instructions. Ingram went 5 for 5 on Sunday with a home run and three RBI. He raised his average to .314 and homered for the third time in four games. On Friday, Ingram went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, both after falling behind 0-2. Once down in the count, he had to try to hit breaking pitches.
Â
"My biggest thing is I'm at my best when I'm early in the count," Ingram said. "It's a lot better when I'm getting ahead early, hitting fastballs early, hitting slider early."
Â
Ingram got an assist from Rodden on Saturday against New Mexico (8-12), which won the first two games of the series. Ingram struck out in his first at-bat and stranded a runner at second. He singled in the fourth inning and homered in the sixth, boosted by Rodden.
Â
"He's the ultimate teammate," Ingram said. "He's always trying to build me up. I was struggling the first couple at-bats (Saturday) and he was telling me 'Hey man, relax, stay through it. Think center field.' And then I hit a home run to center field. He's worrying about me. It's not all about him."
Â
The Shockers salvaged the final game of the series by building a 12-0 lead and holding the Lobos without a hit until the sixth inning. The victory came with plenty of mixed messages.
Starter
Cameron Bye didn't allow a hit in 3 1/3 innings, but he walked six. Wedge continues to search for reliable relievers after the bullpen surrendered seven runs after the sixth inning. The offense carried the day, but also endured an unfortunate moment in the fifth that cost two runs and two outs.
Sawyre Thornhill passed Rodden near first base to turn Thornhill's grand slam into a two-run single. Rodden compounded the oddity by not touching home, creating a double play.
Â
Â
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
Â
Â
