The Shockers couldn’t capitalize on any of the breaks they got last night.

RJ Ybarra drove in the game winning run in the ninth inning as the No. 22 Arizona State Sun Devils (16-8-1, 5-4 Pac-12) ground out a 4-3 win over the Wichita State Shockers (16-13, 2-1 Missouri Valley Conference) to win the first game of the series on a chilly night at Eck Stadium.

WSU missed two opportunities to take the lead with the bases loaded in the sixth and eighth inning, both innings ended with Johnny Coy getting the last out.

“They gave us a lot of opportunities. Three or four times we had the bases loaded and didn’t cash in on any of them. Tonight was our night but we’ll be ready to go and put it behind us,” Coy said.

The eighth inning in particular was frustrating for Coy who hit a curveball hard enough to drive the ball out of the park on warmer nights.

“I got all of it if it’s a little bit warmer that ball goes a little bit farther,” Coy said

“You hit a ball as hard as you can hit it in the eighth inning and the guy makes as good a catch as you can make at center field,” said WSU coach Gene Stephenson

Billy Young made the first start of the season for ASU, pitched five innings, allowed two runs and struck out two batters.

The Sun Devils came into Wichita with an impressive resume already with five wins this season over top-10 ranked teams, with two coming against Arkansas, one at Oregon State and two against UCLA.

Drew Palmer made the start for the Shockers and started the game with two walked batters and single to load the bases.

Two runners advanced home and ASU took a 2-0 lead off of Trevor Allen’s single in the first inning.

The Shockers made their rally in the third inning as even batters walked up the plate in the third inning.

Gillaspie’s double to right center field drove Garrett Bayliff home to cut the lead to 2-1 in the third inning.

After Gillaspie, Tyler Baker walked up to the plate and tied the game with an RBI-single through the right side and tied the game at 2.

“I have total respect for this program. They’re well coached and they know what they’re doing and they showed that tonight,” said ASU coach Tim Esmay.

James McDonald stopped the bleeding when he made a diving stop on Mikel Mucha’s groundball that threatened to reach right field.

Coffman RBI-doubled down the right-field line and ASU took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning

Cody Bobbit’s one-run single drove in Mucha and tied the game at 3 in the sixth inning.

“I thought it was a really good game. We had some opportunities and hit some balls hard and they made some good plays,” Stephenson said.

The tide of the game turned in the ninth inning when reliever Albert Minnis walked the lead-off hitter Max Rossiter who ended up advancing home scoring the go-ahead run.

“It was a game where no one got the big hit so that really was the difference,” Esmay said.

The Shockers conclude the series against Arizona State today at 6:30 p.m.