WICHITA, Kan. -- A three-run deficit proved to be too much for Wichita State to overcome on Saturday afternoon as Rice evened the series at one game apiece with a 3-2 win at Eck Stadium.

Rice (25-19, 8-9) made the early lead stand up thanks to a stellar relief outing from Ty Thames, who blanked the Shockers (25-19, 9-8) over the final four innings on just two hits while striking out four. The outing earned Thames his team-leading fifth save of the season.

The Owls punched first with a pair of runs in the top of the second against Wichita State starter Dax Sharp (0-2). Masa Chilcutt plated a run with an RBI groundout to shortstop and Zachary Daigre followed by beating out an infield single to score a second run for a 2-0 advantage.

The game stayed there until the top of the fifth, when Rice put together a two-out rally against WSU reliever Brady Hamilton. Colin Robson lined a double to left field and Paul Smith knocked him home with a run-scoring single, extending the lead to 3-0.

That was the only run that Hamilton allowed in a strong showing out of the Wichita State bullpen. The righty fired 5.2 innings in relief, striking out six without issuing a walk. Heitaro Hayashi kept the Shockers within striking distance by retiring all four hitters he faced in relief of Hamilton.

Wichita State finally got to Rice starter Ethan Sanders (3-5) in the top of the fifth after the righty had turned in four scoreless frames. Jayson Jones blasted a long solo home run with one out to trim the Rice lead to 3-1, then with two outs Ethan Gonzalez looped an RBI single into left center to score Jack Quick, who had singled earlier in the frame.

Trailing 3-2, Wichita State put the tying run on base in the eighth and ninth innings, but Thames was able to pitch out of trouble both times. He retired three straight in the ninth after Jones led off the inning with a single to close out the win.

The Shockers and Owls conclude the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 pm CT.