The Wichita State Shockers received a big lift from an unlikely source.

Tanner Dearman drove in the go-ahead run which turned out to be the game winning run and WSU (13-11) defeated the Air Force Falcons (8-14) 3-2 in the first game of a two-game series.

The freshman from Anadarko, Okla., has batted everywhere in the order so far this season from leadoff hitter to the nine spot.

Returning home after taking their lumps on a rough seven-game road trip, the Shockers treated their fans to a sample of how they’ll need to play once conference play begins this Friday.

Early on WSU appeared to be sluggish from the travel as they didn’t get back until noon Monday afternoon.

For the first three innings of the game, the Shockers didn’t know what do with Steven Trojan. The Falcons’ freshman pitcher struck out six batters.

After three spotless innings, Trojan started experiencing some issues with his pitching command in the fourth inning. He walked Garrett Bayliff and gave up a one out double to Casey Gillaspie. Then he walked both Tyler Baker and Johnny Coy which loaded the bases. 

Gillaspie advanced home on a bases-loaded walk after Trojan hit Erik Harbutz with a pitch. 

So Falcons coach Mike Kazlausky made a pitching change to senior Ben Bertelson.

Bertelson got the Falcons out of the fourth inning jam, striking out Sean Moore and Taylor Doggett with the bases loaded.

“As you saw he’s very effective, but when he loses it he loses it real fast, but it’s nice to come in with a senior right behind him and he comes in and strikes out the next two guys,” Kazlausky said.

It was quite a different offensive performance from their last game. The Falcons had 18 hits in the last game they played against Fresno State.

“We have to hit the ball better. From our perspective, we’re not going to be sitting here expecting to win a game 2-1,” Kazlausky said.

The Falcons struck first on Seth Kline’s sac fly in the top of the first inning.

Brandon Peterson and Albert Minnis pitched the remaining five innings and didn’t allow a single earned run.

WSU missed a chance to end the seventh inning with a tie game when Dayne Parker dropped a fly-ball, but the Falcons took the lead again on Kline’s unearned run.

Johnny Coy tied the game in the eighth inning on a solo home run to center field, his first home run of the season.

Then Dearman gave the Shockers a 3-2 lead when he hit a two-out RBI single. 

“Gene told me before that I was going to get a hit. He gave me a little edge going in,” Dearman said.

The Shockers are back in action Wednesday against Air Force at 3 p.m.