WICHITA, Kan. -- Wichita State erased a 6-3 deficit with 12 unanswered runs to topple Louisiana Tech 15-6 on Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium.
One day after suffering a 15-run defeat, the Shockers bounced back in emphatic fashion with the help of a late rally. Trailing 6-3 into the bottom of the seventh, Wichita State loaded the bases with no outs on a walk, a hit by pitch and a throwing error. Louisiana Tech (10-9) summoned reliever Nate Crider, who promptly issued three consecutive bases-loaded walks to tie the game. That brought on another reliever in Luke Nichols, who walked
Mauricio Millan with the bases loaded to give Wichita State a 7-6 lead. After a strikeout,
Jordan Rogers delivered the big hit of the day with a three-run triple to left-center field, clearing the bases and giving the Shockers a 10-6 edge.
Jaden Gustafson plated the eighth and final run of the inning with an RBI single.
The Shockers then added four more runs for good measure in the bottom of the eighth, as Rogers doubled home two, Gustafson singled in another and
Kam Durnin lifted a sacrifice fly to produce the final margin. Rogers finished the day 3-for-6 with three extra-base hits and a career-high six RBI.
The combination of relievers
Aaron Arnold (3-0) and
Nick Potter kept Louisiana Tech off the board for the final four innings, with Arnold logging 2.1 scoreless and Potter retiring all five hitters he faced to close out the win.
Wichita State built an early lead thanks to two runs in the first inning, courtesy of a Rogers RBI double and a Durnin run-scoring fielder's choice. Starter
Brady Hamilton made that advantage stand up, delivering 5.0 strong innings in which he surrendered two runs on just three hits. But Louisiana Tech rallied against the WSU bullpen in the sixth, scoring four times to snag the 6-3 lead.
Gannon Snyder put together his best game as a Shocker, notching three hits in five at-bats to go along with several quality defensive plays and a stolen base.
Josh Livingston added two hits and a walk to aid the WSU attack. Wichita State worked a season-high 11 walks on the day in addition to four hit by pitches.
The Shockers and Bulldogs conclude the series on Sunday afternoon at Eck Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm CT.
