The RoundHouse | 6/26/2024 3:28:00 PM
Counting down 2023-24's top stories for Wichita State athletics:
By Paul Suellentrop
Shocker baseball made its first big impression at the AAC Championship with an exciting run to its first title game as a conference member. After a difficult April the Shockers vowed to heat up in May and they did so, coming up just short of a return to NCAA play.
That week in Florida authored a promising finish to coach
Brian Green's first season. Green had to fill out most of his roster starting in June. Coaches brought in 14 junior college transfers and 19 freshmen to rebuild the roster.
Despite that makeover, the WSU finished with a 32-29 record, 15-12 in the American Athletic Conference and tied for third place. Its RPI ranking of No. 95 is the program's highest since the 2019 team finished No. 83.
"This group gave us so many positives to build on in year one," Green said. "It all starts with the culture and enthusiasm they brought to the dugout every day, even when we struggled in April."
The fourth-seeded Shockers defeated fifth-seeded UAB to open the tournament in Clearwater, Fla. Then they won two out three games against top-seeded ECU to eliminate the Pirates.
Josh Livingston homered twice to drive in seven runs in a 14-4 win over ECU in the first meeting.
The Pirates stayed alive with a 5-4 win over the Shockers two days later. Later that day, WSU advanced to the title game with a 12-2 run-rule win. Freshman
Brady Hamilton allowing two runs in five innings.
Lane Haworth hit a three-run home run and
Kam Durnin went 2 for 3 with two walks to drive in two runs.
Third-seeded Tulane ended WSU's run with an 11-10 win in the title game.
"They stayed focused on process and played some really good baseball at the end of the season," Green said. "I'm really proud of the things they did and how they set us up for the future."
Senior pitcher
Caden Favors earned Central All-Region second team honors after going 9-4 with a 3.21 ERA in 17 appearances. His 5.35:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked No. 18 nationally.
Favors also earned All-AAC honors with third baseman
Camden Johnson and outfielder
Derek Williams on the second team. Four Shockers made the All-Freshman team: Haworth, Johnson and pitchers
Tyler Dobbs and
Tommy LaPour.
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
