CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
CLEARWATER, Florida – Ryan Hernandez hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to break a 7-7 tie as No. 3 Houston defeated No. 6 Wichita State, 10-7, in the fourth game of the 2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tuesday night, May 24, at BayCare Ballpark.
 
With the win, Houston (35-22) faces Memphis Thursday, May 26 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. Wichita State (21-35) will take on UCF in an elimination game Wednesday, May 25 at approximately 6:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
 
Wichita State’s Brock Rodden and Sawyre Thornhill hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the third to give the Shockers a 3-1 lead, but the Cougars responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame, including a 2-run double by Santiago Garcia.
 
After Houston added runs in the fourth and fifth, Wichita State scored three to pull within one and tied the game at 7-7 in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Chuck Ingram that scored Ross Cadena.
 
After Hernandez’ home run in the seventh, the Cougars added an insurance run as Brandon Burckel hit his first home run of the season.
 
Jose Torrealba (1-0) picked up the win, throwing three innings of scoreless relief with six strikeouts. Jace Kaminska (3-9) took the loss for Wichita State, allowing three runs in three innings of relief.
 
2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship
 
Schedule
Tuesday, May 24
Game 1: No. 4 Cincinnati 8, No. 5 Tulane 1
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 7, No. 8 South Florida 1
Game 3: No. 7 Memphis 7, No. 2 UCF 6
Game 4: No. 3 Houston 10, No. 6 Wichita State 7
 
Wednesday, May 25
Game 5: South Florida vs. Tulane | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 6: Wichita State vs. UCF | 47 minutes after Game 5 | ESPN+
 
Thursday, May 26
Game 7: Cincinnati vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: Memphis vs. Houston | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+
 
Friday, May 27
Game 9: Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 7 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 8 | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
 
Saturday, May 28
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 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | 47 minutes after Game 12 | ESPN+
Game 14 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | 47 minutes after Game 13 | ESPN+
 
Sunday, May 29
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS