MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Wichita State got homers from Jaden Gustafson and Jayson Jones to go along with a lights-out relief effort from Brady Pacha to earn a 7-3 road victory over Memphis on Friday night at FedexPark.

The Shockers (18-9, 3-1) struck first with two runs in the top of the second inning, plating one run on an Owen Rush infield single and another on a bases-loaded walk from Ethan Gonzalez for a 2-0 lead. Memphis (7-17, 1-3) cut the lead in half in the home half of the inning on a Cade Hitson fielder's choice grounder, but WSU starter Matthew Cuccias (3-0) settled in after that, holding the Tigers off the board for the next three innings to earn the win.

Gustafson cranked a solo shot leading off the top of the third that pushed the advantage to 3-1, then Rush made it 4-1 with an opposite-field RBI double in the fourth.

Wichita State got a crucial two-out, two-run single from pinch-hitter Jacob Gutierrez in the top of the sixth, extending the lead to 6-1.

Those two runs proved vital as Memphis rallied with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of RBI singles from Cade Hitson and Javon Hernandez. Pacha got the final out of the inning with two Tigers on base, then surrendered just one single over the final three innings while striking out five to earn his third save of the season.

Jayson Jones provided the exclamation point with a solo home run in the top of the ninth, extending his hitting streak to 18 games.

Will Howell (2-4) took the loss for Memphis, allowing four runs over 5.0 innings.

The Shockers and Tigers continue the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 pm CT.