A Night of Hitting and Resilience
Caleb Reed took the mound for Wichita State and delivered a season‑high 6.2 innings, striking out eight batters while guiding the Shockers to a 6‑4 victory over Memphis. The win propelled the team into the American Conference Championship semifinals, where they will meet UAB with a potential championship game looming on Sunday.
The offense clicked early, with Jayson Jones and Ethan Gonzalez each launching solo homers in the first inning. Reed’s support continued as Kaleb Duncan drove in two runs with a two‑out, two‑run single in the third, and Jacob Gutierrez added an RBI single in the fifth. Throughout the contest, every Shocker reached base at least once, underscoring the team’s relentless approach.
Late innings brought tension as the Shockers left the bases loaded in both the seventh and eighth frames, but Dax Sharp closed the game with his first save of the season, preserving the lead. Memphis’ Seth Impson took the loss after surrendering two runs in 1.1 innings.
Coach Shane Cox and the rest of the staff praised the collective effort, noting that the depth of the lineup and the reliability of the pitching staff bode well for the upcoming matchup against UAB. The team’s chemistry was evident as Brady Owens and Marcus Smith contributed key defensive plays.