Clutch hitting in late innings gives Shockers 6-5 win over New Mexico

Wichita State can survive errors, and deflating home runs by the opposition. All the Shockers need are clutch hits in three consecutive late innings and one by an extremely unlikely source.

That’s not a recipe for a lengthy winning streak but it worked Friday as WSU outlasted New Mexico 6-5 at Eck Stadium. Mikel Mucha followed big hits from Chase Rader and little-used Brandon Kimbrel with a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth.

The Shockers survived a pair of unearned runs and a two-strike, two-out homer by Cory Voss that tied it 5-5 in the top of the ninth. WSU (15-26) snapped a three-game losing streak and had lost eight of its past nine games before taking its second walkoff win this season.

“It’s nice to be able to smile tonight,” Butler said.

WSU trailed 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and second and two outs when Butler summoned Kimbrel for his sixth at-bat of the season, a pinch-hitting appearance for Trey Vickers.

Kimbrel, a junior catcher, hadn’t batted since April 11, and his previous plate appearance was 15 days before that. But the Shockers needed an extra-base threat and Kimbrel was the choice.

“I was down in the bullpen warming some guys up and they said I was in,” Kimbrel said. “I was excited. I was ready to go.”

Kimbrel worked a full count against New Mexico starter Toller Boardman, with at least one called strike on the outside corner that Butler argued. Boardman stayed outside with his 3-2 offering and Kimbrel went to the opposite field with a sharp groundball that scooted inside the first-base line.

Chase Rader and Taylor Sanagorski scored to tie it 4-4 and Kimbrel ended up with a triple, his second hit this season and his first for extra bases.

After the play, Michael Burns poked out of WSU’s dugout to pinch-run for Kimbrel, but Butler waved Burns off, yelling across the field, “I want (Kimbrel) to hit again.”

“Kimbrel was the guy. That was the guy right there,” Butler said. “I was really hoping he’d run into a ball because he does have power.… He’s not the fastest guy on the team, and he legged it out for a triple.”

The Shockers took the lead in the eighth when New Mexico shortstop Dalton Bowers and left fielder Lane Milligan miscommunicated on a Rader fly ball, letting it fall between them for an RBI double.

WSU could have broken it open but Aaron Siple made a diving catch on Sanagorski’s liner to right field with the based loaded to end the eighth inning.

The Shockers were a pitch away from a much-needed win when John Hayes hung a 2-2 breaking pitch to New Mexico’s No. 3 hitter Cory Voss, who hit a no-doubt home run.

“That one you’ve just got to shake off,” Mucha said. “(Hayes) pitched a hell of a game today and that’s going to happen from time to time. You just have to know that you have to step up at the plate.”

The Shockers’ ninth was full of up-stepping. Burns, who replaced Kimbrel after the seventh-inning triple, started with a single, moving to third base on a single by Daniel Kihle, who failed to on two bunt attempts.

New Mexico brought in an extra infielder and a left-handed reliever, Alex Estrella, to face Mucha. On a 2-1 count, Mucha lined a single to right field for WSU’s first game-ending hit since March 13, a 3-2 win over UC Santa Barbara.

“That’s kind of what made the game tonight – all three of those hits are what got us going, what got the energy going,” Mucha said.

Prior to the late innings, WSU’s offense consisted of a pair of solo home runs by Ryan Tinkham and Taylor Sanagorski. The Shockers trailed after allowing three runs in the second with two errors that led to a pair of unearned runs.

WSU starter Isaac Anderson shook off that and eventually finished strong, establishing a quality fastball later in his outing and retiring the final four he faced.

This story was originally published April 24, 2015 at 10:52 PM with the headline "Clutch hitting in late innings gives Shockers 6-5 win over New Mexico."