CLUTCH HITTING LEADS JACKS TO WIN AT WICHITA

Saturday, March 12

Wichita, Kan.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

4-9

Wichita State

7-8

South Dakota State

Wichita State

Photo by: Erik Williams

3/12/2022 6:08:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

WICHITA, Kan. — Ryan McDonald broke out of an early season slump with three hits, including the go-ahead two-run double in the top of the seventh inning, to lead South Dakota State to a 4-2 victory over Wichita State in college baseball action Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium.

In evening the three-game series at a game apiece, the Jackrabbits improved to 4-9 overall. WSU dropped to 7-8 on the season.

With the game tied at 1-all, McDonald's late-game heroics came with two outs and the bases loaded as he was the first batter to face Shocker reliever L.J. McDonough. McDonald, who came into the game with only two hits in 27 at-bats this season, lined a ball to straight-away center field for his second double of the day, one that scored both Luke Ira and Nic Nelson.

Wichita State answered by scoring a run on a walk, double and wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh, but the Jackrabbits pushed their lead back to two runs at 4-2 in the top of the eighth. Dawson Parry opened the inning by reaching on what was later ruled an error and pinch-runner Jamie Berg moved to second on a walk to pinch-hitter Thatcher Kozal before scoring on a two-out single up the middle by Ira.

McDonald's three hits paced the Jackrabbits' nine-hit attack, while Ira and Henry George each tallied two hits.

SDSU scored the first run of the game by taking advantage of a misplayed ball in the outfield in the second inning. McDonald led off the inning with a single, advanced to third on a two-base error and scored on a groundout off the bat of Parry.

Jackrabbit starter Cody Carlson kept Wichita State off the board until the home half of the fifth. Xavier Casserilla was hit by a pitch to start the inning and later scored on an errant throw.

Carlson struck out two and allowed only four hits and a hit batter through six innings en route to his second victory of the season. Ryan Bourassa added a pair of strikeouts in two innings of relief, while Bret Barnett notched his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

Payton Tolle took the loss for Wichita State despite striking out eight over 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander surrendered three runs on seven hits, and also walked three and hit a batter.

UP NEXT
The decisive game of the series is set for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.

NOTES

The Jackrabbits defeated Wichita State for the first time in eight tries
Ira extended his hitting streak to six games and also recorded his sixth multi-hit game of the season
Five of the Jackrabbits' nine hits were doubles, setting a season high
Of the 18 outs Carlson recorded, 10 were on groundouts
Barnett's save was the 13^th of his career, moving him into sole possession of fourth place on the Jackrabbit career charts as he broke a tie with Chris Halbur (12 saves from 2016-17)
Bourassa has 18 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings this season and 83 strikeouts for his career in 55 2/3 innings
SDSU is 4-0 this season when leading after seven innings