NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Wichita State stranded 16 runners on base and went just 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position in an 11-5 loss at Tulane on Sunday afternoon at Turchin Stadium.
It was a frustrating offensive afternoon for the Shockers (8-15, 1-2), who drew 12 walks and were hit by a pitch four times, but managed only six hits on the day. Tulane (17-7, 2-1) hit four home runs and used 10 pitchers to keep WSU to two hits over the final six innings.
The Green Wave surged to a quick 7-1 lead through three innings, knocking out Wichita State starter
Aaron Arnold (3-1) in the process. Gavin Schulz and Tanner Chun hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the second and Andrew McKenna doubled in two more runs as part of a four-run third that extended the Tulane lead to six.
The Shockers chipped away at the deficit, plating a run in the fourth on a fielder's choice ground out from
Kam Durnin and two more in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk from
Gannon Snyder and a
Ryan Callahan fielder's choice. In the eighth,
Cole Dillon was plunked with the bases loaded to force in a run that cut the Tulane lead to 8-5, but closer Michael Lombardi ended the inning with a strikeout and then pitched around a leadoff walk in the ninth to earn his second consecutive save and seventh of the season overall.
Tulane put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth with a pair of homers, getting a two-run shot from Lombardi and a solo blast off the bat of James Agabedis for the final margin.
Julius Ejike-Charles (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Green Wave, working a scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Only one of the 10 Tulane pitchers did not walk a batter.
Snyder put together a solid offensive day to spearhead Wichita State's attack, finishing with two hits and two walks. Five different Shockers walked multiple times, while Dillon was hit twice.
Tyler Dobbs,
Caleb Anderson,
Nick Potter and
Hunter Holmes all had scoreless appearances out of the WSU bullpen.
The Shockers are back in action on Tuesday night at Oklahoma State. First pitch from Stillwater is scheduled for 6:00 pm CT.
