WICHITA STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
WICHITA, Kan. -- Mauricio Millan launched a walk-off RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Wichita State to a dramatic 6-5 win over Memphis on Friday night at Eck Stadium.
The win clinched a spot in the American Athletic Conference tournament for Wichita State, which can still move up to the #7 in the bracket with a win tomorrow combined with a Rice loss to UTSA.
The victory was also the 300th in the career of head coach Brian Green.
Millan's heroics came after the Shockers (19-34, 10-16) were one out away from winning the game in the top of the ninth. The Tigers (22-32, 8-18) got a game-tying, two-run single from Shane Cox to knot the game at 5-5, then put the potential go-ahead run on second base with two outs before Aaron Arnold (5-2) escaped the inning with a strikeout. The first two Shockers in the home half of the ninth were retired by Memphis closer Brayden Sanders (0-2), but Jaden Gustafson kept the inning alive with a single up the middle. On a 2-1 pitch, Millan blasted a drive to the gap in left-center field that just eluded a diving left fielder Chase Nixon and bounced high off the wall, scoring Gustafson from first base with the winning run.
The Shockers appeared well on their way to a more comfortable victory when they grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first two innings against Tigers starter David Case. Jordan Rogers doubled home Camden Johnson combined with a Memphis throwing error in the first inning, then Johnson took the run production into his own hands in the second with a two-run single.
The Tigers pulled even at 3-3 when Cade Greer lined a two-run single of his own in the top of the third and later came around to score on a wild pitch in the fifth.
That was all Memphis could muster against WSU starter Brady Hamilton, who struck out a career-high nine batters over seven-plus innings, allowing five hits and just one walk.
Kaleb Duncan powered Wichita State back in front late with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to put the Shockers three outs away from victory, but Memphis rallied against the WSU bullpen in the top of the ninth.
Gustafson led the Shockers with three hits, while Rogers added two knocks and five other Wichita State starters produced a single hit.
Wichita State and Memphis conclude the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm CT.