Wichita State Athletics
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- South Florida's Matt Rose hit a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Bulls to a 4-3 win over Wichita State on Wednesday evening at BayCare Ballpark.
Wichita State's season ends with a 20-36 record. South Florida advances to take on the loser of East Carolina and Charlotte on Friday afternoon.
The game featured several key momentum swings. Wichita State was able to manufacture a run in the top of the first when Camden Johnson doubled, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a Jordan Rogers sacrifice fly, giving WSU a 1-0 lead just three hitters into the game.
The lead stayed there thanks to four sharp innings from Wichita State starter Brady Hamilton, who allowed just one baserunner that was erased on a double play. Hamilton ran into command trouble in the fifth, however, issuing three walks and hitting a batter that forced in the tying run and ended his outing after 4.2 innings, still without allowing a hit.
Nick Potter escaped the bases-loaded jam and worked a scoreless sixth but allowed two runs in the top of the seventh to move South Florida (30-24) in front, 3-1. Jackson Mayo led off the inning with a double for South Florida's first hit of the game, then Lance Trippel laid down a sacrifice bunt that Potter threw away, scoring Mayo and sending Trippel to second. After another sacrifice bunt, Carter Murphy singled in Trippel to give the Bulls a two-run lead.
It did not last long, however, as Wichita State's dormant offense came to life against South Florida starter Jack Nedrow. Lane Haworth came off the bench to crack a pinch-hit solo home run and one batter later Josh Livingston launched a solo blast of his own, knotting the score at 3-3.Rose untied the game leading off the bottom of the eighth, and the Shockers were retired 1-2-3 in the ninth by South Florida reliever Austin Newton (1-3) to end the game.
Aaron Arnold (5-3) suffered the loss for Wichita State.
Camden Johnson was the only player in the contest to record multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4. Wichita State out-hit the Bulls, 5-4, and both teams committed one error.