WICHITA, Kan. – If the Bearkats were looking for any reassurance in their weekend starting rotation moving forward, they got some on Saturday.
Right-handed pitcher Heath Donica was dealing, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking one in seven innings, but offense came at a premium as the Shockers downed the Bearkats 2-0 in the middle game of a three-game set at Eck Stadium.
“He had a three pitch mix going and was able to pound them in and out,” second-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “He was working both sides of the plate and had a tight slider going. I thought he pitched his heart out. That's as a good of a performance as I've seen in a long time.”
After Sam Houston (4-8) exploded offensively in a 15-11 win on Friday, Wichita State starter Willie Schwanke kept the Bearkats in check, allowing just four hits in seven innings including retiring 14 straight after Bryce Johnson, who accounted for two of the hits, singled to lead off the game.
“Schwanke really executed pitches tonight and kept us off balance with fast balls in and out,” Deggs said. “We were never able to break him. Hitting is difficult. If hitting was easy, everybody would be doing it. You're going to have nights where a guy executes with good stuff and that's what happened tonight.”
The Shockers (4-6) produced four of their six hits in the fourth inning, including a double from designated hitter Greyson Jenista that hopped over second baseman Riley McKnight, plating Ryan Tinkham and Gunnar Troutwine. Still threatening with runners on second and third with one out, Donica clamped down with a strikeout and inning-ending groundout.
“We could still be playing if we get a bases-loaded double play ball that we aren't able to turn,” Deggs said. “The margin of winning and losing is razor thin at this level. We're going to continue to work to correct our mistakes.”
The Bearkats threatened in the eighth as Johnson logged the Kats first extra-base hit with a double down the right field line and two batters later, Matt Broadbent drew a walk. However, with Zach Smith at the plate, Johnson was gunned down trying to steal third for the final out.
For Donica, the outing was another quality one and confidence booster. A week ago in his first start against No. 25 Oklahoma, the junior transfer allowed just two hits and as many earned runs while picking up his first victory.
“With that lineup, they have a lot of big right-handed guys and in this park, the wind blows out so I was pitching backwards, trying to finish with a fastball,” Donica. “We played our butts off defensively. Those high choppers are tough plays and they made them every time.”
With a pitch count at exactly 100, the Cosicana product trotted back out for the seventh inning, arguably throwing his finest frame, striking out a pair of hitters as part of his fourth 1-2-3 inning. He finished with 113 pitches on the night.
“We had a really good game plan,” Donica said. “We got a little roughed up last night but what that did was showed what they could do. Seeing Sam (Odom) do what he has this year, it pushes me. He's been pitching his butt off and it's a challenge to everyone else. It motivates me.”
Miles Manning tossed one inning of relief, striking out one without allowing a hit. The Shockers Cody Tyler picked up his first save, tossing the final two innings, allowing one hit and a walk while fanning another.
First pitch for Sunday's rubber game is schedule for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3. Freshman right-handed pitcher Riley Gossett (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will make his second start. He will be opposed by Wichita State's Zach Lewis (0-0, 0.93 ERA).
After sweeping Oklahoma and being swept by No. 6 Louisiana, Deggs believes the finale is an important scenario for Sam Houston to experience entering Southland Conference play next weekend.
“We're sitting 1-1 and this is great experience for us, especially heading into conference next weekend, having the feeling of what it's like to play to win a series,” Deggs said. “We've put ourselves in a position to win a series against a really good ball club on the road.”
