Baseball | 9/26/2025 3:05:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Brady Pacha knows his Shocker baseball history from a first-hand perspective, sitting on the metal bleachers above the first-base dugout.
 
"It was always fun, everyone cheering them on," Pacha said. "Alec Bohm was fun to watch, because he's one of the best Shockers there was."
 
Pacha's connection to Shocker baseball doesn't end with Bohm, now playing third base for Philadelphia. He and his family are friends with the family of Carl Hall, the former outfielder who died in 2024. He also knows the Dreifort family and used to quiz them about Darren Dreifort, the 1993 Golden Spikes Award winner who pitched and hit for Wichita State.
 

Now Pacha, from Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, is the one who will play at Eck Stadium while youngsters watch.
 
"I thought it would be fun to be a part of that," he said.
 
The Shockers face Nebraska in a 16-inning scrimmage at noon on Saturday at Eck Stadium. Tickets are $5.
 
Pacha is one of four transfers on the Wichita State roster from NCAA Division II schools. He joins Pittsburg State teammate Drew Bugner, who plays infield and outfield, outfielder Jacob Gutierrez, from Lubbock Christian, and lefty pitcher Dax Sharp, from Central Oklahoma.
 
"It was always my dream to come to Wichita State," said Bugner, from Andale High School. "At my juco, we didn't even have a locker room. The locker room setup is sweet and its easy for us to communicate with each other and build a relationship with each other."
 
All four earned all-conference or All-American honors. All four played in NCAA regional (or super regionals) last season, which gives Wichita State coach Brian Green a good sample size to evaluate when looking at transfer candidates.
 
"That has to happen if they're a Division II player – not just experience but success," Green said. "Those guys we brought in from the Division II level all had success."
 
He is also counting on the natural motivation to prove they can play at a higher level and attract attention from professional scouts.
 
Bugner comes from a family of athletes, and he is motivated by the success of his older brother. Tyler Bugner, an All-American at Newman University, was drafted in the 21^st round by Colorado and played three seasons in the minor leagues. Older brother Hayden earned all-conference honors as a pole vaulter at WSU. Melanie, his mother, played softball at Wichita State.
 

"My goal right now is to get drafted," Drew Bugner said. "Ever since (Tyler) got drafted, I was like 'Yeah, I have to get drafted.'"
 
Bugner, who hit .407 with 17 doubles and four home runs for Pittsburg State, is the team's best athlete, Green said.
 
"Tremendous physical specimen," Green said. "Very versatile and we plan on playing him at multiple spots."
 
Gutierrez hit .394 over three seasons at Lubbock Christian with 17 home runs and 20 doubles. He earned NCAA Division II honorable mention All-American honors in 2024 after hitting .424 with 10 homers.
 
"Hardest worker we have," Green said. "Very disciplined in his work. He'll be a great competitor for us."
 
Green describes Gutierrez as a player with constant energy who runs from drill to drill during practice.
 
"I've always had some hard-nosed coaches," Gutierrez said. "It's just in my nature. I always like Pete Rose "Charlie Hustle." So, you've got play like that. I want to show the city we play hard."
 

Sharp earned honorable mention All-American honors with Central Oklahoma. He compiled a 1.88 earned run average in 12 appearances. Pacha had a 2.92 ERA last spring for the Gorillas.
 
Pittsburg State's season ended on May 23 with an NCAA Division II super regional loss and Pacha considered his college career finished.
 
"I thought I was done," he said. "I was playing independent ball until I got signed (by a major-league organization)."
 
In July, Pacha learned, thanks to the change popularly known as the "Diego Pavia ruling," he had another season of eligibility. Pavia's lawsuit led to that additional season for former junior college athletes. Pacha is taking full advantage of extra year of eligibility athletically and academically. He is working on his Master's of Business Administration at WSU.

"It's another test you want to try to see if you can conquer it," Pacha said. "I think we're all in a little bit of awe. The facilities are top-notch. You're trying to soak everything in from the coaching staff, the facilities, the weights. It's a blast."

For the Division II transfers, the transition means facing faster fastballs and dangerous hitters throughout the lineup. It also means enjoying the perks.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
 
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.