WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State rallied from a 7-1 deficit to put the tying runs on base in the eighth inning but could not complete the comeback as Nebraska held on for an 8-6 win on Tuesday night at Eck Stadium.
The Shockers (9-6) grabbed the game’s first lead when Dayvin Johnson bounced a single through the middle in the bottom of the first, scoring Camden Johnson who had been hit by a pitch. But Nebraska (10-4) responded by scoring the next seven runs, striking for four in the third and three in the fourth with the help of two Wichita State errors. Tyler Stone put the Huskers in front with a two-run homer in the third against WSU starter Brady Hamilton (0-2) and later in the inning Ben Columbus rapped a two-out, two-run single that increased the Nebraska lead to 4-1.
Three unearned runs crossed the plate for the Huskers in the fourth, scoring on a Wichita State throwing error, a Garrett Anglim sacrifice fly and a Columbus bases-loaded walk.
From there the Shocker bullpen held the fort, allowing just one run over the final five innings while the offense settled in. Jordan Rogers pulled the Shockers to within 7-3 with a long two-run homer to left field, his fourth round-tripper of the season. After the Huskers answered with a run of their own in the seventh to make it 8-3, Wichita State got three consecutive two-out RBI singles from Ryan Callahan, Josh Livingston and Jaden Gustafson to claw within 8-6 in the bottom of the eighth. The Huskers summoned closer Casey Daiss, who retired pinch-hitter Seth Stroh on a grounder to first to preserve the lead.
Daiss pitched around a two-out single in the ninth to record his third save.
Nebraska starter Will Walsh (1-0) earned the win, allowing six hits and three runs over six innings. Hamilton was saddled with the loss, allowing seven hits and six runs (four earned) over three frames. The combination of Ryan Geraghty, Ronald Zayas, Drew Iverson, Jeremiah Arnett, Mason Munz and Hunter Holmes allowed just one earned run; as a team, the Shockers struck out 14 Huskers on the evening.
Derek Williams led the Shockers with three hits on the night, while Callahan recorded a pair of knocks.
The Shockers and Huskers conclude the midweek series on Wednesday evening. First pitch from Eck Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 pm.