Baseball | 5/2/2023 11:02:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
There is not much need for cleverness or deception when freshman Nate Snead pitches for Wichita State. Catcher Mauricio Millan can put his glove in front of him and wait.
 
The ball doesn't always hit the target, but when it does it's special. When it doesn't, well, that can often look pretty good.
 
"There's very few kids that can do that, very few where you say, 'Just set up in the middle and let's try to keep the ball down and still get outs,'" interim coach Loren Hibbs said. "Stuff is not an issue. Power arm. Power breaking ball."
 
Snead showed all that stuff in two innings to wrap up Wichita State's 1-0 win over Kansas State at Eck Stadium on Tuesday. Plenty of drama. Plenty of power, mixed with some wildness, and it worked out for the Shockers.
 
"I like having to do my thing out there, instead of when it's like 14-2," Snead said. "Nerves were a little higher than normal. My adrenalin was up there."
 
The Shockers (27-17) won for the ninth time in their past 11 games and swept the season series from the Wildcats (28-18). In Manhattan, the Shockers won 10-4 by hitting six home runs. The rematch turned on the pitching staff, which scattered five hits and struck out nine.
 
 

3-2. 2 outs. Tying run in scoring position.@SneadNate said it's time to go home. pic.twitter.com/k0lWqIDMVH

— Wichita State Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) May 3, 2023

 
 
Snead, a right-hander from South Milwaukee, Wis., earned his third save of the season while striking out two, walking two, allowing one hit and stranding the tying run at third in the eighth and at second in the ninth.
 
"Before every game, I tell him to go out there and go right at them," shortstop David Herring said. "He seems to listen. That's the part I love about it. He goes right at them."
 
In the eighth, Snead gave up a first-pitch single and a walk and struck out leadoff hitter Kyan Lodice on three pitches. A sensational diving play by Herring got the runner at second. A ground ball out ended the inning with a runner on second and third.
 
Herring, playing toward the middle, dove to keep Cash Rugely's groundball on the infield and, from his knees, threw out Roberto Pena at second. He kept a run from scoring by snagging the ground ball and then robbed the Wildcats of a bases-loaded threat with the recovery and throw.
 
"My heart kind of dropped there when he hit it," Snead said. "But Dave doing Dave things and making that diving and stop and getting that out at second was a great moment."
 
In the ninth, Snead walked the leadoff batter, got two outs, then went to a full count on Cole Johnson before striking him out with a fastball with the count full.
 
"He's finally starting to trust his stuff," Millan said. "That last guy, I wanted to challenge him, and I was like 'Your stuff against their stuff.' Trust your stuff."
 
The phrase "make the game boring" runs through Snead's mind as he prepares to throw his upper 90s fastball and curveball. It is a reminder to play catch, repeat the movements, perform the routine acts that make for successful pitching.
 
"(Coach) says it every day 'Make the game boring,' keep repeating yourself, pound the zone," Snead said.
 
As with most college pitchers, he started games and usually dominated in high school. At Wichita State, he is needed in the bullpen this season and is learning to enjoy that role. Snead signed with Iowa Western Community College before a coaching change opened him to other options and he landed at Wichita State.
 
"He's a guy that could be a dominant closer," Hibbs said. "Long term, he's got a chance to be a dominant starter, too."
 
Snead finished off a strong night for five other Shocker pitchers, none of whom threw more than two innings to stay ready for the weekend series at Houston.
 
 

This breaking ball is rated NC-17@jace_miner 🔞

M6 | 🌾1, 🟣 0 pic.twitter.com/iVzilPzJiF

— Wichita State Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) May 3, 2023

 
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.