WICHITA, Kan. -- Lane Haworth launched a two-out, two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Wichita State to a 5-4 win over Cal State Fullerton on Friday evening at Eck Stadium.
Haworth's blast is the first walk-off home run for Wichita State since Garrett Kocis connected for a two-run shot against Kansas on March 23, 2022.
The Shockers (3-6) entered the ninth inning trailing 4-3 but got a leadoff hit batter when Fullerton closer Jason Krakoski (0-1) drilled
Ryan Callahan in the leg with a fastball. A bunt force-out at second base and a groundout to first left the tying run at second with two outs, and Haworth cranked the first pitch he saw from Krakoski over the wall in right-center for his first home run of the season.
The rally was made possible by tremendous work from the Wichita State bullpen, which got 4.2 combined shutout innings from
Hunter Holmes,
Caleb Anderson,
Tyler Dobbs,
Karsen Richard and
Aaron Arnold. The group combined for seven strikeouts and allowed just two hits, with Arnold (1-0) earning the win in relief.
Wichita State faced a 4-1 deficit entering the bottom of the fifth but chipped away with one run in the fifth, one in the seventh and two in the ninth.
Josh Livingston started the comeback with a two-out RBI double in the fifth and
Camden Johnson made it 4-3 in the seventh by beating out a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop.
Gannon Snyder produced Wichita State's first run of the day in the second inning, roping an RBI double to left-center for an early 1-0 edge.
Andrew Kirchner provided all of the offense for Cal State Fullerton, smacking a three-run homer in the third inning and working a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.
Both starters finished with no decisions.
Brady Hamilton allowed just three hits but four runs over 4.1 innings, while Mikiah Negrete worked 5.0 innings, allowing six hits and two runs. The Shockers out-hit the Titans (1-8) 9-5, and neither team committed an error.
The two teams continue the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
