WICHITA, Kan. -- Wichita State used a six-run fourth inning to erase a 4-0 deficit but could not hold the lead late as Florida Atlantic rallied for a 9-7 win on Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium.
The Owls (27-23, 12-11) scored five unanswered runs from the sixth through the eighth innings to create separation against the Wichita State bullpen. Three FAU relievers allowed just one earned run over the final six innings.
The Shockers (26-25, 10-13) faced an uphill battle after the Owls scored the game's first four runs in the second inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Kyle Boylston against WSU starter
Brady Hamilton. In the fourth, however, Wichita State erased that hole and then some with a six-run inning. After the first three Shockers in the inning reached base,
Jaden Gustafson launched a grand slam down the right field line that pulled WSU back even at 4-4. Later in the inning,
Kaleb Duncan knocked home a run with a groundout and
Nolan Ganter raced home on a wild pitch to give the Shockers a 6-4 lead.
Caleb Reed helped keep the Shockers in front with excellent work out of the bullpen, striking out the first five hitters he faced and ultimately turning in 3.1 innings of relief with just one unearned run allowed. After
Heitaro Hayashi got the final two outs of the sixth, the Shockers still carried a 6-5 lead into the seventh inning.
Xavier Moronta singled home the tying run for FAU in the seventh, then the Owls took advantage of four consecutive two-out walks in the eighth to score three more runs for a 9-6 lead.
Wichita State got a run back in the bottom of the inning courtesy of an
Owen Washburn RBI single, but reliever Carson Kimball was able to retire the next two Shockers before working a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his third save.
Brayden Gilson (2-0) picked up the win for Florida Atlantic, while
Brady Owens (0-2) was saddled with the loss for Wichita State.
The Shockers and Owls conclude the series on Sunday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05 am CT.
