It first seemed as if Wichita State was going to make this game their own. Andy Dirks singled to short to start the game, and then promptly stole second on the next pitch. However, that was all Irvine P Wes Etheridge needed to get into a groove. Etheridge would put Wichita on a brutal hold for 5.2 innings, retiting the next 17 Shockers that he faced.

Meanwhile, the importance of scoring early was critical to both teams, and Irvine took advantage in the bottom of the first. Taylor Holiday ripped a double that nicked the top of WSU 3B Conor Gillaspie's glove and into left field. After Ben Orloff sacrificed Holiday to third, he would score on a squeeze sac bunt by Matt Morris, giving Irvine a 1-0 lead.

For the next two innings, Etheridge and Wichita's Rob Musgrave matched each other pitch for pitch, setting batters down like clockwork. However, in the bottom of the fourth, the Anteaters would strike again. Matt Morris doubled down the left field line, and would score on a bloop single to shallow right by Jeff Cusick, giving Irvine a 2-0 lead, and quieting the usually raucous fans at Eck Stadium.

It looked like Wichita would pick up some momentum in the late innings, as Andy Dirks finally ended the Shocker offensive slump with a single to right. The Shockers didn't score, but they finally got a baserunner on, and when Tyler Weber gunned down Irvine's Cody Cipriano, who was trying to steal second, the Shocker fans finally returned to the game, roaring just one pitch later as Musgrave struck out a wildly swinging Bryan Petersen.

However, the Shockers could do nothing in the seventh, going in order, and then came the eighth, when Tyler Hill singled with one out, and Ryan Jones, pinch hitting for Dusty Coleman, would single to right to put Hill on third with two outs. The crowd here at Eck became a furious sea of bright yellow, realizing the first time a Wichita player had reached third base since the first inning. Andy Dirks stepped up and smoked a shot to left center, sending screams of joy from the Wichita crowd, who were ready to see the first Shocker run of the weekend cross the plate. And then....

Irvine's Matt Morris and Ollie Linton, sprinting for the ball, dove to try and catch it. Linton collided into Morris, but it was Morris, the Anteater LF, who made a spectacular catch and spoiled what would've been a huge party here at the Eck.

The drama turned to the ninth, and Wichita fans roared as Derek Schermerhorn singled to left to start the inning. Damon Sublett then came up and hit a slow bouncing, routine grounder that appeared to be the first out of the inning. However, Irvine 1B Taylor Holiday's foot slipped off the bag during the catch. Umpire Jack Cox ruled Sublett out, and the Wichita fans howled in protest. Gene Stephenson sprinted out of the dugout to argue for Sublett, and after minutes of discussion, the call was reversed. Shocker fans rejoiced in the stands, and Irvine's Dave Serrano came out to argue the reversal, but to no avail.

Matt Brown would advance the runners on a sac bunt, and Irvine went to the bullpen, bringing Tom "Tommy Boy" Calahan to the mound. He would walk Danny Jackson, bringing Tyler Hill to the plate for the Shockers. Serrano then came out again, replacing Calahan with Dylan Axelrod. It would be the Shocker catcher that would win the battle. Hill delievered when Wichita needed him the most, singling to right to score Schermerhorn and Sublett, tying the game at 2-2, and setting off an explosion of cheers from the crowd. The bleachers shook, planes roared overhead, and it felt more like the middle of a war zone instead of a day at the ballpark.

The Shockers couldn't bring home Jackson, who was the go-ahead run at second, and Irvine came into the ninth needing a run to win it. Cipriano hit a towering shot to left center that was caught at the warning track for the first out. Morris would then single to right center, giving UCI hope. On a pitch that bounced in the dirt, Morris would steal, reaching second and setting himself in scoring position to win the Super Regional. Bryan Petersen came to the plate, and on a 3-2 pitch, smacked one over Matt Brown's head and off the wall in right, sending UCI players joyously to the plate to greet Morris, and setting off a celebration among Anteater fans around the nation.

The ninth inning proved to be worth the ticket price...Wichita ties it in wild fashion, and Irvine comes back with the nail in the coffin to win it. It was an incredible last inning here at Eck Stadium, and it won't be soon forgotten by anyone wearing UCI colors today.

We've got quotes from coaches and players, as well as a final wrapup of things here in Wichita still to come. Stay tuned as Touching the Bases continues coverage of UC Irvine's Super Regional triumph.