WICHITA, Kan. (Interstat) — Caleb Reed delivered five innings of dominant relief and Max Kaufer’s go-ahead double in the eighth inning lifted Wichita State to a 3-2 comeback victory over Omaha in a tightly contested non-conference baseball game Thursday evening at Eck Stadium.

The Shockers (5-2), who outhit the Mavericks 10-3, overcame an early two-run deficit and a strong starting pitching performance from Omaha’s Maddox Meyer to secure the win in the opener of a four-game series. The Mavericks fell to 3-4.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score tied 2-2. After Oliver Mabee struck out Jayson Jones, Owen Washburn laced a double to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Mabee struck out Nolan Ganter for the second out, but Joshua Wulfert kept the inning alive with an infield single, moving Washburn to third. Kaufer then delivered the decisive blow, driving a double to score Washburn and give Wichita State its first lead of the night. The rally made a winner of Reed and handed Mabee the loss.

Reed was the star for the Shockers, entering the game in the top of the fifth inning with two Omaha runners on base and no outs. He escaped that jam without allowing a hit and proceeded to stifle the Mavericks’ offense, allowing just one single over five shutout frames. He struck out five and walked two, earning the win with a masterful performance that followed a brief outing in his last appearance on Feb. 19.

His effort overshadowed a brilliant start from Omaha’s Meyer, who did not allow an earned run over six innings. He scattered six hits, struck out four and walked none, but was not involved in the decision. The Mavericks’ bullpen could not preserve the tie, as Mabee surrendered the winning run in the eighth despite striking out three in his inning of work.

Omaha struck quickly against Wichita State starter Matthew Cuccias in the first inning. Edoardo Cornelli singled, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a subsequent error by the pitcher to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead without the benefit of an RBI. They added an unearned run in the fourth when Nick Riggs walked, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error, and scored on Tyler Bishop’s groundout.

Wichita State chipped away, scoring an unearned run in the third on an RBI single by Jaden Gustafson after a fielding error extended the inning. Washburn tied the game in the fourth with a solo home run, his third hit of the afternoon as part of a 3-for-4 performance.

The Shockers’ offense, which had stranded several runners earlier in the game, finally broke through in the eighth against Mabee. Omaha’s offense, meanwhile, was held in check after the fifth inning by Reed, who retired the final seven batters he faced.

The victory defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which gave Wichita State a 69.7% probability to win and simulated a final score of 6-4.

The two teams continue their series with a game Friday evening at Eck Stadium.