Sophomore outfielder Daniel Kihle provided late-game heroics in the first game of Wichita State’s doubleheader against Long Beach State University Friday.

 He hit a single to give the Shockers a 5-4 win before being shut out in the second game 7-0.

“I’ve had a lot more confidence this year,” Kihle said. “The coaches just pump confidence into all of us.”

The Shockers kicked things off in the first inning when junior Casey Gillaspie doubled in two runners, giving Wichita State an early 2-0 lead.

Junior pitcher A.J. Ladwig pitched five scoreless innings before allowing a run in the sixth when Long Beach State’s Ino Patron hit a bases-loaded single.

Ladwig pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits and two walks.

A three-run eighth inning by the Dirtbags, which featured an RBI double by Patron, tied the game at four, voiding Ladwig’s win.

After a pair of walks and a failed sacrifice bunt to start off the bottom of the ninth inning, Kihle came to the plate with runners on first and second. With two strikes, he hit a line drive just over the third baseman’s glove, winning the game for the Shockers.

“The coaches have worked all year on our two-strike approach,” Kihle said. “And we’ve worked so much at it that I feel just as comfortable with two strikes as I do with no strikes.”

Kihle has had an opportunity to showcase his talents with junior outfielder Mikel Mucha getting hurt. Kihle went three-for-five in the first game, including a home run in the seventh inning, and one-for-two in the second game.

He’s a very good outfielder,” WSU head coach Todd Butler said about Mucha. “He’s one of our best outfielders out there, so that’s a huge loss and guys will have to step up to replace him for the time being.”

Mucha fractured his leg and is expected to miss eight weeks.

The Dirtbags and their starting pitcher, sophomore Andrew Rohrbach, dominated the second game of the doubleheader.

“He pitched incredibly well and totally dominated the game,” Butler said, “We hit some balls hard at times, but we just could not get anything going.”

Rohrbach pitched all nine innings for the Dirtbags, allowing just four hits and four walks while striking out nine Shockers.

WSU freshman Sam Tewes got the start in game two, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing five runs on five hits and a walk.

The final game of the series set for Saturday afternoon, was cancelled due to weather.

The Shockers travel to Tulsa, Okla., on Tuesday to face Oral Roberts at 3 p.m.