ERRORS COSTLY IN LOSS TO WICHITA STATE

Friday, March 11

Wichita, Kan.

3 p.m.

South Dakota State University

3-9

Wichita State

7-7

South Dakota State

Wichita State

Photo by: Erik Williams

3/11/2022 8:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State right-hander Jace Kaminska struck out eight batters and limited South Dakota State to one run over seven innings in leading the Shockers to a 5-2 victory to open a three-game college baseball series Friday afternoon at Eck Stadium.

WSU evened its record at 7-7, while the Jackrabbits dropped to 3-9 overall.

The Shockers got on the board first with an unearned run in the third inning. After an infield popup was dropped to open the frame, Ross Cadena moved to second on a walk and advanced to third on a fielders choice. Cadena then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jack Sigrist.

WSU added another run against Jackrabbit starter Nic McCay in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Cadena, then broke the game open with three more unearned runs in the fifth. Couper Cornblum reached on an error to lead off the inning and the bases became loaded on an infield single by Cadena and a walk to Sigrist. That set the stage for Brock Rodden, who delivered a bases-clearing, three-run double down the right-field line with two outs.

Rodden was 3-for-5 to lead the Shockers' nine-hit attack, while Cadena added a pair of hits.

McCay, who pitched out of jams in several early innings to keep the Jackrabbits within striking distance, turned in his best outing of the season as he struck out eight and walked three over six innings. Freshman Joe Husak followed with two shutout innings of relief.

Both Jackrabbit runs were the result of home runs. Luke Ira hit his team-leading third home run of the season to lead off the seventh inning and Thatcher Kozal added a pinch-hit solo homer to lead off the Jackrabbit ninth. It was Kozal's first home run in an SDSU uniform.

Ira's home run was the lone run allowed by Kaminska, who limited SDSU to two hits and one walk in his seven innings of work. Kaminska retired 11 batters in a row before Ira's opposite-field blast.

UP NEXT
The two teams are scheduled to play the middle game of their three-game series at 2 p.m. Saturday.

NOTES

Wichita State has won all seven games in the series, which dates back to the 1981 season
Ira extended his hitting streak to five games
SDSU hit two home runs in a game for the second consecutive game and third time this season
McCay's eight strikeouts are tied for the most by a Jackrabbit pitcher this season, matching Owen Bishop's total in a Feb. 25 start at Incarnate Word
Derek Hackman had his streak of reaching base safely end at 11 games
Kozal hit the first pinch-hit home run by a Jackrabbit since Ryan McDonald came off the bench to hit a two-run shot March 28, 2021, at Western Illinois
The Jackrabbits dropped to 0-4 in series openers this season