This time, Wichita State’s opponent enjoyed the ninth-inning magic.
Just three outs away from an upset victory in the American Baseball Championship, No.7 Shockers gave up two ninth-inning runs and lost 5-4 to No. 3 Rice on Thursday afternoon in BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
After the winning run scored on a Wichita State throwing error, Rice’s players raced onto the field to celebrate the comeback win. The Shockers walked slowly to their dugout, seemingly stunned after the heartbreaking loss.
It was a contrast to Wednesday’s game in the tournament opener, when Wichita State scored twice in the ninth to shock Florida Atlantic 3-2.
Facing elimination with a loss, the Shockers will take on the loser of No. 1 UTSA vs No. 5 Memphis 47 minutes after the conclusion of the 3:30 p.m. game tomorrow.
Wichita State, thanks to a lights-out performance from the bullpen, appeared headed to another close victory on Thursday.
Up 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, Wichita State kept junior right-hander Brady Hamilton on the mound after he got a big out in the eighth, stranding the tying run on third base. But Hamilton got off to a rocky start in the ninth, giving up a solo home run to Kutter Gage-Webb, the first batter of the inning.
Hamilton, in his third year with the Shockers, then allowed two singles, putting runners on first and second with no outs. The next batter laid down a bunt that went to Hamilton, who tried to throw out the lead runner at third, but he missed his target, resulting in a Rice walk-off win.
Despite the rough outing from Hamilton, who dropped to 3-8 with the loss, the Shocker bullpen controlled most of the game.
Graduate right-handed pitcher Brady Pacha, normally the Shocker closer, got the start for Wichita State and struggled, giving up four hits and two runs in two innings.
Reese Kortum, a junior lefty, relieved Pacha and gave the Shockers 3 2/3 innings of dominant pitching. He allowed just one run, no walks and struck out six Rice hitters.
It was the second strong outing from Kortum, who pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings in Wichita State’s last home game of the season on May 10 against FAU.
Senior right-hander Amar Tsengeg replaced Kortum and contributed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Then, Heitaro Hayashi, a senior left-handed pitcher, came in and recorded two outs for the Shockers before being relieved by Hamilton. Wichita State used five hurlers against Rice and didn’t issue a single walk the entire game.
WSU’s offense kept the pressure on Rice throughout the game. The Shockers scored a run in four straight innings, from the second through the fifth. WSU’s leadoff hitter reached base in five out of nine innings, including three times in a row from the fourth through the sixth innings. Five Shockers recorded multi-hit games.
Junior center fielder Kaleb Duncan was Wichita State’s most productive batter, recording three hits and an RBI in three at bats. Owen Washburn, a senior designated hitter, also had a nice day at the plate, finishing with two hits, including a home run.
