March 15, 2011
Wichita State 6, Arizona 5 (Box Score)
WICHITA, Kan. - The No. 11 Arizona baseball team was unable able to hang on to a late 5-1 lead as host Wichita State struck for two runs in the eighth and two runs in the ninth to tie the game before winning on a two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning to capture a 6-5 victory.
Designated hitter Preston Stringer, who finished 3-for-4 with three RBI, tied the game with one out in the bottom of the ninth with a double to score Walker Davidson and Tyler Grimes, who both walked to lead off the inning.
Arizona (13-4) escaped further damage in the inning, but was unable to produce any offense in the first two extra innings.
That allowed Wichita State (11-4) to break through in the home half of the 11th with the game-winning run. After reaching with a leadoff walk, Grimes stood at third with two down and Johnny Coy at the plate. Coy, who went 2-for-6 with three RBI, pulled the first pitch he saw down the left field line for the walk-off hit.
Bryce Bandilla was charged with the loss after allowing the final four runs of the game in relief. He allowed five hits and issued five walks in 3.2 innings out of the bullpen. Of his five walks, two led off innings - the decisive 9th and 11th innings, respectively.
To that point, Arizona pitching had been strong. Kurt Heyer turned in 3.1 innings of work in a mid-week start and left with the game tied 1-1. He allowed just one hit, one walk and struck out four.
Freshman Konner Wade replaced Heyer and tossed 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. He turned the game over to classmate Jacob Doyle, who carried the game into the eighth inning. But a leadoff walk and a single put runners at the corners with no outs. That was when the Wildcats called on Bandilla to come in and close out the game.
Bandilla found some trouble right away issuing a walk to the first batter he faced. He bounced back with a strikeout, but Coy delivered a two-run single to cut a 5-1 Wildcat lead down to a three-run margin. However, Bandilla buckled down and finished off the inning with a pair of strikeouts.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to some defensive miscues by the Shockers. Cole Frenzel knocked a one-out single to right field and moved to second when Robert Refsynder's sacrifice bunt was misplayed by the defense.
After Steve Selsky lined out to right field, Arizona went with a double steal attempt. The throw to cut down Frenzel stealing third skipped off the glove of third baseman Tyler Coughenour, and Frenzel was able to advance home and score the game's first run.
In the fifth, the Wildcats broke open a 1-1 game. A bunt single by Bryce Ortega and a walk drawn by Rickard set the table for Frenzel. The lefty first baseman slugged his first career home run over the right field fence, giving Arizona a 4-1 lead.
The margin was extended by a run an inning later. With two outs, Seth Mejias-Brean walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Alex Mejia followed with a double down the left field to score Mejias-Brean.
But that was all the scoring the Wildcats would do in the game. In fact, Arizona collected just two more hits the rest of the way, both in the eighth inning. But any chance of scoring was put to a halt as Jett Bandy was thrown out trying to go from first to third on a single by Mejias-Brean.
Otherwise, Zach Beringer and Cale Elam held the Wildcats hitless in the final three frames. Elam earned the win with 2.0 scoreless innings out the bullpen.
The two teams will conclude the two-game series on Wednesday at 2 p.m. (CDT) at Eck Stadium.
