TAMPA, Fla. -- Wichita State scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to bring the tying run to the plate but could not complete the comeback as South Florida hung on for an 8-7 win on Saturday afternoon at USF Baseball Stadium.

The Shockers (19-12, 5-3) entered the ninth trailing 8-3, but started the frame with a single from Mauricio Millan and a double from Ryan Callahan sandwiched around a strikeout. Seth Stroh plated both runners with a sharp single through the right side, cutting the deficit to 8-5. Lane Haworth then yanked a 3-2 pitch from reliever Austin Newton to deep right field, pushing outfielder Drew Brutcher back to the warning track where he reached up and knocked the ball over the fence for a two-run homer that trimmed the lead to 8-7. It was Haworth's first collegiate home run and capped off a team-best three-hit day for the freshman outfielder.

South Florida (17-13, 5-3) called upon closer Chandler Dorsey, who retired Camden Johnson on a grounder to first and Dayvin Johnson on strikes to end the game and secure his sixth save.

The story of the game was South Florida's ability to generate two-out rallies. The Bulls scored six of their eight runs in innings where there were two outs and nobody on base. With the game tied 1-1 in the second, WSU starter Tyler Dobbs (4-3) retired the first two men he faced and got ahead of nine-hole hitter Matt Rose 0-2. But Rose singled and the next six batters reached base after him, highlighted by a three-run homer from Ben Rozenblum. When the dust settled, South Florida had scored four times in the inning for a 5-1 lead.

Wichita State chipped away with two runs in the top of the fifth, getting RBI singles from Camden Johnson and Dayvin Johnson to pull within 5-3. But South Florida scored the next three runs, including a pair in the seventh after a two-out walked opened the door for an RBI double from Marcus Brodil and a run-scoring single from Rose that made it 8-3.

Dobbs was tagged for eight hits and five runs in 4.2 innings, striking out three and walking three. Caleb Anderson allowed three runs over two innings in relief before Drew Iverson tossed an inning and a third scoreless with a pair of strikeouts.

Jack Cebert (4-2) pitched well to earn the win for South Florida, striking out six over 7.0 strong innings while allowing seven hits and three runs. The Bulls did not walk a batter and have issued just one total walk through the first two games of the series.

The Shockers will look to salvage the series finale on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm CST.