by Andrew J. Ferraro
Staff Writer
On the verge of losing his third-consecutive decision, Houston Cougars freshman pitcher Shane Nance still had all the confidence in the world.
With two outs, one man on base in the bottom of the ninth inning and trailing by one run, Nance turned to teammate Robert Dieudonné and predicted the impossible.
"Goefrey (Tomlinson) is going to hit a homer and we're going to win this game."
He did, they did, and Nance was able to celebrate his first collegiate victory (1-2), but had to wait to the last minute, no doubt.
Behind Tomlinson's late-inning heroics lies a masterfully pitched game by Nance in which he pitched nine innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out 10 and walking just three.
Despite giving up a two-run homer in the top of the first to Wichita State third baseman Joey Blue and later a solo shot to Shockers catcher Nathan Reese, Nance used a tricky combination of a fastball and breaking ball to stymie most of the WSU lineup.
"It's not all about me getting my first collegiate win today," Nance said. "Us winning is all that really matters.
"I guess I prepared for this game just like I'd do any other. It doesn't matter who it is I face. I just come out here and get ready to pitch."
Nance's near masterpiece followed a very similar outing by junior pitcher Jon McDonald (3-0) in Saturday night's 10-6 win over the Shockers.
Although he gave up six runs on 10 hits, McDonald was able to keep the Wichita State lineup off balance for the first six innings including three strikeouts.
It took a three-run double by WSU's Zach Sorensen in the ninth inning to knock McDonald out of the ball game.
Dieudonné retired the final two batters, preserving the Cougars' second of three wins over a top-10 team for the season. (Houston beat Rice in the season opener.)
"I wasn't nearly as nervous this time out and I'm just feeling more and more comfortable every time I go out there," McDonald said.