The Cal Poly Mustangs visited Wichita State for a three game series with the Shockers Thursday through Saturday. After a shutout in Game 1, and a ninth-inning loss in Game 2, the series would be edged out in Saturday’s rubber match.

Wichita State (7-16) lost for the second-straight time and tenth time in the last 13 games on Saturday, falling to Cal Poly (15-7) 7-6.

A ninth-inning rally fell short one run of tying the game after Mikel Mucha recorded two RBIs in the seventh and ninth innings.

The Shockers fell to an early three-score deficit in the third inning before scoring runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Thursday

Wichita State started the series victorious with a 6-0 shutout against the Mustangs. Redshirt junior Willie Schwanke struck out six batters. He pitched in eight innings.

Schwanke earned his fourth win of the season. He recently had been named the new weekend-starter after redshirt sophomore Sam Tewes ended his season with a tear to his UCL.

Freshman right-fielder Greyson Jenista added contributions at the plate, getting the Shockers on the board with two RBIs on two hits in three at-bats.

Senior Ryan Tinkham and sophomore Gunnar Troutwine each added an RBI of their own

Thursday’s victory rallied Wichita State after suffering a 17-0 loss, the worst home-loss for WSU in 62 years, and the gain a piece of momentum in a struggled non-conference record. Schwanke helped solidify the bullpen doubts, with the loss of Tewes sidelined for the second straight year.

Friday

WSU hit the bats early, Tinkham scored an RBI, and Chase Rader made it two after adding an RBI of his own on singling to left field. But it wasn’t enough to stay with the Cal Poly, who took Game 2 by a score of 7-2.

Junior pitcher Zach Lewis pitched two-thirds of the first inning before pressuring coach Todd Butler to go to his bullpen, ultimately pulling Lewis in an early-finish.

Ryan Tinkham had an RBI fielder’s choice and Chase Rader added an RBI single but it wasn’t nearly enough to hang around with the Mustangs. Cal Poly won 7-2.

After a two-run first inning, WSU would be shutout the rest of the way out.

Redshirt sophomore Cody Tyler produced a bright spot in Friday’s loss, he pitched 4.2 innings allowing one run.

Saturday

In the final game of the series, redshirt senior pitcher Chase Williams allowed Cal Poly to gain an early lead with a run in each of the first three innings.

Williams walked two batters and allowed two runs on three hits in two innings. Williams would be pulled early, as WSU would rotate through seven pitchers in nine innings.

Jenista put the Shockers on the board with a solo home run in the fourth inning.

It would be the only scoring opportunity for the Shockers before freshman Luke Ritter drove in an RBI on a single into left field.

Redshirt senior Mikel Mucha started a rally in the bottom of the seventh, driving in Ritter with a single. Jenista added an RBI of his own and cut the deficit to two points.

Mucha then drove in a pinch-hitter with an RBI double in the ninth inning. With the deficit at a single run, the Shockers couldn’t complete the rally; they left the bases loaded with Mucha waiting on third base.