For a second straight game, Wichita State was not able to hold a 3-1 eighth inning lead, as #6 Oklahoma State scored three runs with two outs and tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth for a 5-3 victory on Tuesday night at Eck Stadium.
With the Shockers leading 3-1 in the eighth, Wichita State reliever Adam Ketelsen (1-1) retired the first two men he faced to open the inning. But a walk and a single put two on for Aidan Meola, who yanked a double down the left field line to bring the Cowboys within 3-2 and put runners at second and third. The Shockers summoned reliever Caden Favors to face pinch-hitter Brett Brown, who lined a two-run single over a leaping Brock Rodden at second base to give Oklahoma State a 4-3 lead.
In the ninth, Oklahoma State added cushion when Zach Ehrhard led off the inning with a single, moved to second on an error and to third on a groundout, before Griffin Doersching rapped an RBI single into left for the game's final margin.
The late rally spoiled an excellent start from freshman lefty Jace Miner, who held the Cowboys to just one run over a career-best five innings. Miner struck out four and walked only one, allowing seven hits. The lone run he surrendered came in the first when Ehrhard singled, moved to third on a throwing error, and came in to score on an RBI groundout from Jake Thompson.
The Shockers (12-16) quickly got the run back and then some in the bottom of the second. Sawyre Thornhill singled and Xavier Casserilla doubled to put two on with nobody out; one batter later, Gage Williams plated Thornhill with a groundout and Jordan Rogers followed with an RBI single that made it 2-1.
Wichita State took advantage of some rare sloppy defense from the Cowboys to add a run in the fourth. Casserilla reached on a throwing error to start the inning, and later moved to second when Williams singled. On a potential inning-ending double play ball, the throw to first base was high, allowing Casserilla to scamper home from second base to give the Shockers a 3-1 lead.
Landry Kyle (1-0) ultimately picked up the win for Oklahoma State by recording the final out of the bottom of the seventh, while Nolan McClean notched his first save by working a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
The Shockers resume conference play on Friday night at East Carolina. First pitch of the series opener against the Pirates is scheduled for 5:30 pm. Listen to the game on KFH.