WICHITA, Kan. -- Clark Candiotti struck out 11 over 6.2 scoreless innings, helping Wichita State split their doubleheader with Houston via a 6-1 victory on Friday night at Eck Stadium. The Cougars took game one of the twin-bill, 8-6.

Game One

The Shockers rallied from a pair of multi-run deficits, but Houston scored three times in the top of the eighth to seize control. Brandon Burckel broke a 5-5 tie with an RBI single and Ian McMillan followed with a two-run homer for an 8-5 lead that proved to be the difference.

Wichita State had an opportunity to answer back in the bottom of the eighth when the Shockers loaded the bases with nobody out, but could muster only one run on a sacrifice fly as Houston closer Justin Murray slammed the door for his fourth save.

Houston took a 2-0 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second, but Brock Rodden brought the Shockers level with a two-run homer to center against Cougars starter Josh Ekness. The Cougars retook the lead with two in the fourth and one in the fifth, but Kyte McDonald pulled WSU even once again at 5-5 with a game-tying, three-run homer off reliever Jose Torrealba (2-2).

Nate Snead (0-1) took the loss for Wichita State despite four strikeouts and allowing just one baserunner in 1.2 innings.

Payton Tolle finished with a no-decision for the Shockers, allowing three earned runs in 5.2 innings with four strikeouts. Matt Wilkinson turned in a 1-2-3 top of the ninth out of the Shocker bullpen.

Game Two

Candiotti dazzled in the nightcap, setting a new career high in strikeouts while matching his career best in innings pitched. The right-hander had a string of seven consecutive strikeouts from the fifth through the seventh, the longest recorded stretch of consecutive strikeouts in the Shocker record book. His biggest pitches came when Houston loaded the bases with one out in the fifth; Candiotti responded by fanning the three and four-hole hitters for the Cougars to escape the threat.

All told, Candiotti (4-2) allowed just three hits and two walks to go along with his 11 strikeouts. He exited with two on and two out in the seventh, after which Jace Miner escaped the jam by inducing a fly out to center.

The Shockers gave Candiotti all the support he needed with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the second. Jaden Gustafson hammered a two-out, two-run triple to deep left-center for a 2-0 lead against Houston starter Paul Schmitz (1-3). Wichita State tacked on a pair of two-run innings in the seventh and eighth, as Chuck Ingram singled home a run and Payton Tolle added a sacrifice fly. Another sac fly from Jack Little combined with a Houston error produced the final margin.

Robert Cranz tossed the final two innings for the Shockers, allowing just one hit on a fly ball that dropped between two outfielders.

Wichita State (18-12, 3-2) will go for the series win in the rubber match tomorrow afternoon. First pitch from Eck Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 pm.