CLEARWATER, Fla. – Kutter-Gage Webb drove in three runs off three hits as No. 3 Rice rallied in the ninth inning to defeat No. 7 Wichita State 5-4 in the American Baseball Championship at BayCare Ballpark on Thursday.
 
The Owls (35-22) advance to face No. 2 East Carolina at 9 a.m. ET on Friday, May 22, while Wichita State (29-28) will await the loser of No. 1 UTSA vs. No. 4 UAB or No. 5 Memphis in Friday’s final game.
 
Wichita State struck first in the second inning. Nolan Ganter led off with a double before Kaleb Duncan lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate the game’s opening run.
 
Rice answered in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of RBI singles from Kutter-Gage Webb and Lorenzo Rios to take a 2-1 lead.
 
The Shockers responded quickly in the third as Owen Washburn launched a solo home run down the right field line to tie the game. An inning later, Wichita State regained the advantage after Zeb Henry drove in a run with a groundout to shortstop following back-to-back baserunners to open the frame.
 
The Shockers extended the lead to 4-2 in the fifth inning, capitalizing on a throwing error that allowed Jaden Gustafson to score after Ganter reached base safely.
 
Rice chipped away in the sixth inning when Webb delivered another RBI hit to cut the deficit to one.
 
The Owls completed the comeback in dramatic fashion in the ninth. Webb tied the game with a solo home run, his third RBI of the afternoon, before Rice put runners on first and second with consecutive singles. A throwing error on a bunt by Zachary Daigre allowed Jacob Devenny to cross the plate with the game-winning run.
 
Zachary Fetchel (1-0) earned the win with 2.0 shutout innings in relief. Tanner Wiggins started for Rice and pitched 5.0 innings, while Carson Kuhn added 2.0 innings out of the bullpen.
 
Brady Hamilton (3-8) was charged with the loss for Wichita State after allowing the deciding runs in the ninth inning.