CLEARWATER, Fla. – Matt Rose’s eighth-inning solo home run propelled No. 3 South Florida to a 4-3 victory over No. 7 Wichita State in an elimination game on Wednesday evening, May 21, at the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
With the win, South Florida (30-24) will play the loser of Charlotte and East Carolina on Friday, May 23 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. Wichita State concludes the season at 20-36.
Down 3-1 heading into the top of the eighth, Wichita State’s Lane Haworth hit a pinch-hit solo home run to right and Josh Livingston stepped up two batters later to hit his own home run to right field to tie the game at 3-3. Rose then led off the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to left field, his second home run of the season.
Austin Newton (1-3) earned his first win of the season with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief after South Florida starter Jack Nedrow allowed three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work.
Aaron Arnold (5-3) took the loss for the Shockers, allowing one run in 1.1 innings of relief. Wichita State starter Brady Hamilton tossed 4.2 innings, allowing one run without a hit and four strikeouts.
2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central
Tuesday, May 20
Game 1: No. 5 Tulane 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 UTSA 4, No. 8 Rice 2 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 3: No. 2 Charlotte 7, No. 7 Wichita State 1 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 4: No. 6 East Carolina 9, No. 3 South Florida 4 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Wednesday, May 21
Game 5: No. 4 Florida Atlantic 8, No. 8 Rice 6 (Rice eliminated) |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 6: No. 3 South Florida 4, No. 7 Wichita State 3 (Wichita State eliminated) |
Box Score |
Highlights
Thursday, May 22
Game 7: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 1 UTSA | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: No. 6 East Carolina vs. No. 2 Charlotte | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+
Friday, May 23
Game 9: Loser of Game 7 vs. No. 4 Florida Atlantic | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Loser of Game 8 vs. No. 3 South Florida | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
Saturday, May 24
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
Game 14: Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
Sunday, May 25
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS
All times listed are Eastern.