The RoundHouse | 3/29/2024 4:08:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Sharks, as far as Wichita State coach Brian Green knows, are mostly about one thing.
 
"All they do is wake up and hunt food every day," Green said.
 
That single-minded purpose is what Green wants from his hitters with two outs. Those at-bats, the Shockers believe, are the ones that change games. To indicate their importance, two-out RBIs are rewarded with a shark sticker to apply to the batting helmet.
 
"It's being tough, being competitive," designated hitter Jaden Gustafson said. "That's how our program is run now. Getting the job done."
 
Friday's 10-3 win over Rice at Eck Stadium provided more evidence of the value of two-out hits. The Shockers (17-9, 4-1 American Athletic Conference) drove in four runs with two outs and hit .364 (4 of 11).
 
Gustafson drove in two of those two-out runs with a third inning double, part of a 4-for-4 day with two doubles, three RBI and three runs that raised his average to .346. Mauricio Millan, who went 2 for 3, also drove in a two-out run to score Gustafson in the third. Dayvin Johnson homered with two outs in the eighth to cap the WSU scoring.
 
Those hits continued WSU's success with two outs. The Shockers are hitting .250 with 53 RBI with two outs. Opponents are at .198 with 32 RBI after the Owls (9-18, 1-4) went 2 for 11.
 
 

The sharks are FEASTING@Jadengus_ 🦈

B3 | 🌾4, 🦉 1 pic.twitter.com/1I0gdjMLc5

— Wichita State Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) March 29, 2024

"That's the easiest way to win a baseball game," Millan said. "That's a big emphasis for us, whenever we do get two outs with runners in scoring position doing a good job of seeing the ball deep, shortening up, widening out. Putting the bat on the ball. Give yourself a chance, rather than striking out."
 
Green made two-out hits a focus in the fall. The Shockers came up with the "shark" tag and fin stickers during a team-building exercise. They throw up a fins sign when they drive in a two-out run. There is a shark sign on the door to the locker room.
 
"They're so hard to get," Green said. "We're really trying to hammer that theme and the guys have really taken hold of it."
 
Those at-bats deflate the pitcher, extend innings and flip momentum. Gustafson will add a fourth and fifth shark sticker to his batting helmet. Jordan Rogers leads the Shockers with 11 two-out RBI and Seth Stroh has seven.
 
"That's when you've really got to dig in," Green said. "It's a concentration thing and with two outs that's when concentration has to be best for both pitcher and hitter."
 
Gustafson, who hits left-handed, put on a clinic for handling the bat Friday with two two-strike hits and an ability to take the ball up the middle and to left field.
 
He doubled on a 3-2 pitch to center in the second inning and later scored. In the third, he took an 0-2 pitch to left center to drive in two runs. In the fifth, he singled up the middle. In the seventh, Gustafson singled through the left side to drive in another run.
 
"Fantastic," Green said. "He didn't pull anything. He was using the middle of the field and then he went opposite field twice."
 
 

Locked him up 🔒

M1 | 🌾0, 🦉 0 pic.twitter.com/ZAvqRPUnqG

— Wichita State Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) March 29, 2024

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