SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Wichita State out-hit UTSA 12-7 and got a season-high-tying nine strikeouts from
Tommy LaPour but committed a series of costly miscues in a 6-5 defeat on Friday night at Roadrunner Field.
The Shockers (22-26, 8-11) led 1-0 into the bottom of the fifth thanks to an RBI single from
Jaden Gustafson. The Roadrunners (27-18, 13-6) tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the fifth and then took the lead in the sixth; with the bases loaded and two outs (following a 37-minute rain delay) pinch-hitter Tye Odom hit a chopper to the right side of the infield that bounced off the glove of first baseman
Mauricio Millan, allowing two runs to score for a 3-1 UTSA lead.
WSU retied the game in the top of the seventh with some two-out magic.
Lane Haworth smacked an opposite-field solo home run to cut the deficit to 3-2, then after a walk to
Jordan Rogers,
Derek Williams blasted a ball off the top of the fence in left for a game-tying, RBI double.
The deadlock did not last long, however, as a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the home half of the inning put UTSA back in front, 4-3. Isaiah Walker followed with a ground ball to third that skipped past
Camden Johnson's glove, plating two more runs and extending the advantage to 6-3.
The Shockers made things interesting in the ninth when Haworth connected for his second solo homer of the night and one batter later Williams smacked a long home run of his own to cut the Roadrunners lead to 6-5.
Dayvin Johnson worked a walk to put the tying run aboard with one out, but UTSA closer Fischer Kingsberry induced a fly out and a ground out to end the game and secure his sixth save.
The late scoring spoiled a strong start from LaPour, who held UTSA without a hit for the first four innings and matched his season high with nine strikeouts.
Hunter Holmes (1-2) took the loss for the Shockers, allowing three runs (one earned) over 0.2 innings.Â
Ruger Riojas (8-2) grabbed the win for UTSA despite allowing four hits and two runs over 1.2 innings.
The Shockers and Roadrunners will conclude the series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
