WICHITA, Kan. -- Wichita State used a five-run fifth inning and more stellar work from the bullpen to coast past Omaha 10-3 on Friday night at Eck Stadium.
The Shockers improved to 8-2 on the season, their best start through 10 games since the 2020 club also started 8-2.
Wichita State struck early and often against Omaha starter Tanner Foertsch (0-2), scoring single runs in the first, second and fourth innings to grab an early lead.
Owen Washburn opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly, then
Owen Rush answered an Omaha run with a run-scoring triple in the second for his first Wichita State hit and a 2-1 lead.
Max Kaufer extended the lead to 3-1 with a towering solo homer in the bottom of the fourth.
Omaha (3-5) had their best chance to get back into the game in the top of the fifth, pulling back to within 3-2 on a two-out RBI double from Edoardo Cornelli and later putting runners at first and third. Wichita State starter
Brady Hamilton was able to escape the threat by inducing a ground out to preserve the lead.
Wichita State blew the game open with a five-run fifth despite recording just three hits. After Rush worked a leadoff walk,
Jaden Gustafson yanked an RBI triple to extend the WSU lead to 4-2. He scored on a bloop double from
Alex Ulloa, who scored himself when Washburn rifled an RBI single that made it 6-2.
Jack Quick knocked in a run with a groundout and Omaha reliever Brayden Curtis balked in the final run of the inning for an 8-2 advantage.
The Shockers added two runs for good measure in the bottom of the eighth. An Omaha throwing error and
Jayson Jones RBI single put the Shockers in double-figures for the fifth time in 10 games.
Ryan Morrison was brilliant out of the Shocker bullpen, spinning 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
Heitaro Hayashi made his debut in the top of the ninth and recorded the final three outs, allowing one unearned run.
Hamilton (2-1) earned the win for Wichita State, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings while striking out seven.
Ulloa, Jones, Washburn and Kaufer all recorded two hits to pace the Wichita State attack.
The Shockers and Mavericks conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:05 pm CT.
