WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State overcame an early 4-0 deficit to beat UAB, 6-5, in walk-off fashion Friday at Wilkins Stadium.
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The walk-off win for the Shockers (12-10, 2-2) over UAB (12-14, 0-4) was their third of the season, joining victories over Drake on Feb. 27 and Creighton on Feb. 21.
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UAB opened the scoring in the top of the first, plating a run on a throwing error to take the early lead.
Neither side scored in the second, but the Blazers added to their lead in the top of the third, scoring three runs to jump out to a 4-0 advantage.
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In the bottom half of the inning,
Trinity Allen drove in Wichita State's first run of the game with an RBI single that scored
Kammie Smith. Two pitches later,
Kinzey Woody blasted a three-run home run over the fence in left-center to tie the game at 4-4.
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After neither side scored in the fourth, UAB broke the deadlock with a solo home run in the top of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead.
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UAB threatened again after loading the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth, but
Jodie Epperson and
Gabby Scott turned a double play. Epperson threw out a tagging runner from center field, and Scott applied the tag to keep the deficit at one run.
Ryley Nihart escaped the inning unscathed after
Ausha Moore dove to force out a runner at third base to end the frame.
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Still trailing by one heading into the bottom of the seventh, Scott led off the inning with a no-doubt solo home run down the left-field line to tie the game at 5-5. Allen followed with a single and Woody doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. After UAB threw out a runner at home, Epperson drove in the winning run, lifting a ball into the gap in left-center to score Woody, giving the Shockers the walk-off win.
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Nihart (5-6) tossed a complete game in the victory. Woody went 3-for-3 at the plate and Allen was 3-for-4 - both career highs.
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Up Next
Wichita State wraps up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader against the Blazers beginning at 4 p.m. at Wilkins Stadium.