CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Wichita State jumped out to an 8-0 lead and fought off a late Cincinnati charge, downing the Bearcats 10-6 on Saturday afternoon at UC Baseball Stadium.
The Shockers (16-10) have now won six straight games and clinched their first series win against Cincinnati after entering the series with a 2-11 record against the Bearcats.
Wichita State appeared well on their way to a comfortable victory after scoring four runs in the third inning, one in the fourth, and three in the top of the sixth to take an 8-0 advantage. But Cincinnati (11-18, 0-2) surged back with two runs in the sixth and four more in the eighth to make things interesting, before the Shockers snagged a pair of vital insurance runs in the ninth for the final margin.
Brock Rodden got his big offensive day started by banging a two-run double to the gap in right-center against Cincinnati starter Chase Horst (1-3), and two batters later trotted home an RBI groundout from
Payton Tolle for a 3-0 lead.
David Herring made it a four-run inning by slicing an RBI double down the left field line, scoring
Mauricio Millan all the way from first base.
Rodden added another double in the fourth, this one an RBI two-bagger hit high off the fence in right-center to score
Jack Little for a 5-0 lead.
The Shockers blew the game open with a three-spot in the top of the sixth. A double steal from
Jack Little and
Jordan Rogers brought home the first run, followed by run-scoring singles from Rodden and Millan for the 8-0 margin.
Tolle (6-0) battled his way through five innings shutout innings to earn the victory, exiting in the sixth after the first two men in the inning reached and later scored. Tolle struck out seven and walked one on the day, allowing six hits.
Still leading 8-2 into the bottom of the eighth, Wichita State pitchers issued four walks in the inning to set the stage for four Cincinnati runs, trimming the Shocker lead to 8-6. A line out to Herring at shortstop with two on and two out preserved the WSU edge heading to the ninth.
Jordan Rogers keyed a pair of critical insurance runs in the top of the ninth. After
Kyte McDonald drew a one-out walk, Rogers yanked an RBI triple into the left field corner that made it 9-6, then scampered home on a wild pitch to restore the Wichita State lead to four runs.
Cameron Bye heightened the drama in the bottom of the ninth with two more walks, but struck out the side for a second straight appearance to nail down the win.
The Shockers will go for the sweep on Sunday in the series finale. First pitch from UC Baseball Stadium is set for 11:00 am CT.
