The RoundHouse | 4/22/2023 8:55:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Payton Tolle had to do an interview and get to batting practice before the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Those duties could wait, however, while he took pictures and exchanged hugs with family and signed autographs for fans.
 
The pitcher who shuts out No. 7 East Carolina is in demand and with good reason.
 
Tolle, a sophomore lefty, propelled the Shockers to one of their most impressive days of the last 15 seasons with his two-hitter in a 7-0 win over the Pirates at Eck Stadium. The Shockers won the nightcap 8-3 to climb into a tie for first with ECU and Houston in the American Athletic Conference.
 
Wichita State (23-15, 7-4 American Athletic Conference) won its fifth straight game to surpass last season's win total. It is Wichita State's first series win over a top-10 team since the 2014 team won two of three against No. 9 Cal State Fullerton at Eck Stadium.
 
The day started with Tolle striking out 10 and not allowing a walk in a 108-pitch clinic. He retired the first nine hitters and didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning. With two runners on in the sixth, he struck out ECU first baseman Josh Moylan on a 93-mph fastball and didn't allow another Pirate on base.
 
"Tolle was absolutely incredible," catcher Mauricio Millan said. "He was really confident. His ball just had some sort of different life today."
 
 

Look at Chuck go from sprint to jog like an 18-wheeler downshifting on the highway.

That's pro right there pic.twitter.com/oE5XsnR1zf

— Wichita State Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) April 22, 2023

 
 
Several factors may contribute to Tolle's dominant afternoon. He didn't serve as designated hitter to give him a break from the double-duty grind in a doubleheader. Jina Tolle, his mom, came to see him play for the first time in several weeks.
 
"I felt fresh today," Tolle said. "The big part of it is confidence, having confidence in yourself."
 
Shocker coaches told Tolle they wanted him to pitch and not hit on Friday. While Tolle's enjoyed some great two-way days, coaches wanted to give him a mental and physical break, especially with the Shockers playing a doubleheader for a third straight weekend.
 
"We tried to simplify it for him," Interim coach Loren Hibbs said. "He wants to compete, but he was OK with it. It's hard to do both. It's a lot of wear and tear on your body."
 
The Shocker had about an hour in between games. They ate, looked at scouting reports and stretched. Most important, they put the high of the opener behind them.
 
"We win the first one, it would be easy to relax," right fielder Chuck Ingram said. "We did a really good job of staying locked in for 18 innings."
 
Clark Candiotti gave the Shockers another good start by holding the Pirates to seven hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings. Jace Miner limited ECU to two hits over 3 1/3 innings to earn a save.
 
 

The finishing touch.@RolleTolle49 🙌 pic.twitter.com/B90wsWzA7E

— Wichita State Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) April 22, 2023

The pitchers enjoyed plenty of run support in WSU's first series win over the Pirates (29-10, 7-4) in five meetings as conference opponents. Ingram went 6 for 9 with a home run in each game. First baseman Garrett Pennington homered off the scoreboard in left field and doubled. Millan went 2 for 5 and drove in two runs.
 
In the second game, left fielder Sawyre Thornhill went 4 for 4 with a double. Shortstop David Herring homered and center field Kyte McDonald went 2 for 4 with two runs. Tolle, as the DH, slapped a two-run single to left to extend the lead to 8-3 in the sixth inning.
 
The Shockers celebrated in the locker room after the sweep. They also told each other they needed to soon forget that buzz and focus on Sunday's final game. The conference race is merely at the halfway point.
 
"That's a big statement win right there, to win both against ECU," Ingram said. "We've come a long way since the beginning and started to figure things out."
 
The Shockers did make a statement – they are part of the conference race after 11 games. Sunday is a chance to underline and bold that statement.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.