The RoundHouse | 3/23/2022 10:12:00 PM

 

 
Garrett Kocis remembers watching the ball he launched toward right field, something he doesn't often do.
 
He doesn't remember tossing his batting helmet high in the air after rounding third base. Does he remember the mosh pit at home plate, the speakers blaring "Jump Around," his teammates yelling, high-fiving and dousing him with water and ice?
 
"Honestly, I couldn't tell you what I did around the bases," Kocis said. "I have no idea. I don't remember it at all. The biggest thing for me was not to fall over and tweak my hamstring."
 
The scene, from fastball to violent swing to joy, is one he will remember after Wednesday's 7-5 win over Kansas in 10 innings. The win gave the Shockers (10-10) their sixth straight victory over the Jayhawks (9-10).
 
Kocis ended the 39-degree night with a smash off Kansas reliever Kolby Dougan on a 1-2 pitch. His second home run of the season scored Jordan Rogers, who legged out an infield single with two outs to bring Kocis to the plate.
 
"It's everything," Kocis said. "I didn't even feel the ball come off my bat. That one I had to watch."
 
 

No. Doubter.@GarrettKocis 💦 pic.twitter.com/9qpbh98p9n

— Wichita State Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) March 24, 2022

Sending one of your in-state rivals home with a home run always feels special. Kocis savors these moments more than most because of his journey. Wednesday marked his first game at first base since Feb. 26, when he injured his left hamstring. Since then, he totaled six at-bats before Wednesday.
 
"I've had a lot of injuries through my time here," he said. "The one main thing it's taught me is to just enjoy every moment. Enjoy the ups and downs."
 
Kocis played 17 games in 2019 and was starting to get hot when an injury ended his season. He played in 15 games in the COVID-19-shortened 2020. Last season, a wrist injury limited him to 36 games, in which he hit .286 with 12 home runs. He started 2022 as the American Athletic Conference's preseason all-conference pick at first base.
 
Kocis' return to first base helps the Shockers defensively and adds the potential for a powerful bat.
 
"He's a guy that was so big for us last year," Wichita State coach Eric Wedge said. "He's fighting his way back. As long as he gets back to that approach, and it looks like he's heading in that direction that he had last year, good things are going to happen."
 
The late-inning dramatics started in the sixth inning for the Shockers, who trailed 5-0 and didn't register their first hit until Kocis' two-out single in the fifth. Chuck Ingram tripled to left field in the sixth to start a three-run inning that revived the Shockers.
 
Ingram homered in the eighth to cut KU's lead to 5-4. nHe tied the game by smacking a 2-2 sacrifice fly to left field in the ninth.
 
Once Ingram got rolling, others followed. The Shockers worked three walks and Brock Rodden took a pitch to the back in the final four innings. Rogers hustled down the line after pinch-hitting to set up Kocis. The bullpen contributed five scoreless innings with closer Connor Holden throwing 2 1/3 of those.
 
"It's something we've talked about and have been waiting for," Wedge said. "We've fought back, but not enough to win, at times. To get over the hump is big. That's a step for us. So many people contributed."
 
 

3⃣ games, 3⃣ dingers.@ChuckIngram6 does it again!

📺: https://t.co/fK2lcPbj4g pic.twitter.com/zKRfSGohJW

— Wichita State Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) March 24, 2022

Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.