First off, Dave Serrano was dead on. This was a game that came down to pitching overpowering two pretty good offensive clubs. On most any given day, what the Wichita State pitching staff did today would've won them the game. However, Scott Gorgan was just too much for the Shocks to overcome, and that's how the game was won.

EARLIER KEYS TO THE GAME:

*Stolen Bases - Not much from either team here. Wichita really blew a chance on a hit and run try in the sixth. UC Irvine, thinking such a play could happen, went with the pitchout and got the easy out.

*Leadoff Hitting - Not much here either. One leadoff hit for each team in the game. Both Gorgan and Shafer were dominant.

*Irvine in the early innings - Great defensively, weak offensively.

*Wichita in the late innings - Missed opportunities. Those late innings are when WSU wins games. Today, Irvine stopped them when the Shocks needed to score the most.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Scott Gorgan, UC Irvine. Two complete game wins in a row. One against Texas, and now today against Wichita State. Think this guy isn't the real deal? Think again!

CRITICAL PLAY OF THE GAME: Besides the obvious flub off a ground ball by WSU relief pitcher Noah Krol, it has to be the bases loaded strikeout that Gorgan got to end what could've been a huge inning for Wichita State. Had he not gotten the K, we might have a totally difference result on our hands.

WHAT THIS MEANS: Irvine gets the biggest win of their program's history. That's about it for now though. If Irvine wins tomorrow or Monday, this game will soon be forgotten in Anteater lore. What it means for Wichita State is that they'll have to do what they did in the regional...fight their way back to claim a title.

And finally, one last note....

Wichita State has GREAT baseball fans.

I took a stroll in the fourth inning around the stands and outfield. There were fans all over...in seats, in tents, in trees, in lawn chairs, sitting in the grass...you name it, someone in yellow was sitting there. That's just part of the story. The Shocker faithful were roaring from the start of the game to the last pitch. WSU fans get into the game right at the start, and never turn the intensity off. It definitely was noticed by the UC Irvine team.

"Texas had more fans, but these fans are just loud from the get-go," said UCI Coach Dave Serrano. "It's a much different atmosphere than what it was like at Round Rock. Give the Wichita State fans credit today."

"Texas had more fans, but Wichita...man, those fans are on top of you," said UCI's Sean Madigan.

I have to agree with those statements. While most big name programs bring numbers, they are so spoiled by victory that they just clap politely and really don't get into the game. The fans at Eck Stadium today were as raucous as they come...and you've got to love covering baseball at a place like that.

We'll have more coverage tomorrow, when UC Irvine attempts to stamp their ticket to Omaha, and Wichita tries to even the score. For now, we bid you good afternoon from Wichita, where the Anteaters have taken one more step towards Rosenblatt Stadium and the College World Series.