BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

WICHITA, Kan. — It was fitting, perhaps, that the play that produced the only run of UC Irvine’s Super Regional pitcher’s duel with host Wichita State Saturday was directed toward the mound.

Shockers’ reliever Noah Krol, who had just entered the game, failed to stab UCI designated hitter Sean Madigan’s eighth-inning comebacker with the bases loaded. The ball caromed off the mound, Krol’s glove and arm, back toward the third-base line, allowing Cody Cipriano to score for the No. 4-ranked Anteaters (44-15-1).

Ironically, Krol was playing with a different glove than the one he entered the game with. Krol said an umpire told him a silver patch on his glove did not meet rule specifications for a single-colored glove, so he was forced to replace it.

“[Madigan] didn’t hit it hard,” Krol said. “I just didn’t make the play. It hit my glove, rolled up my arm and bounced toward the third-base line. I just didn’t make the play.”

UCI Coach Dave Serrano said he believes the ball hit the lip of the artificial turf that rings the mound, forcing a last-second adjustment Krol could not make.

Madigan’s at-bat involved another adjustment, or more accurately, the lack of one in the UCI dugout.

Serrano said Madigan was nearly removed from the game, when Serrano believed Wichita State Coach Gene Stephenson was bringing in a left-handed reliever to face the left-handed-hitting Madigan. But when Krol, a right-hander, replaced Andy Womack, Serrano nixed his plans to bring on right-handed pinch-hitter Jeff Cusick.

“It was a good mental at-bat for Madigan, because I had already told him ‘We’re going to Cusick,’ ” Serrano said. “Then when they stuck with the right-hander, I said ‘No, wait a minute, you’re still in.’ I hadn’t told the umpire [of the change] yet.

“A lot of times, I don’t like telling guys [they’re out for a pinch-hitter] because they shut it down mentally. But [Madigan] got it going again.

Another development of note about Madigan’s game-winning RBI: Madigan said it was a first-pitch fastball, but Krol said the pitch was a changeup.

IT’S GOTTA BE THE SHOES

Inexperience playing on artificial turf nearly cost the Anteaters in the fifth inning, when a Wichita State runner stole second as UCI second baseman Cody Cipriano slipped on his way to covering the bag.

Cipriano, wearing soft-sole shoes with no spikes — used commonly by players on turf — had his feet go out from under him as he moved from the turf , onto the dirt cutout that surrounds all the bases at Wichita State’s Eck Stadium.

Catcher Aaron Lowenstein appeared to have the throw on target and in plenty of time, but when Cipriano slipped, he failed to haul in the throw and the runner was safe.

Serrano said as soon as UCI came back to the dugout after retiring the side, Cipriano changed into shoes with metal spikes.

STILL HOLIDAY SEASON

UCI junior first baseman Taylor Holiday had hits in his first two at-bats Saturday, including the game’s only extra-base hit, a double to left-center in the third inning. He is now hitting a team-best .450 in four postseason games (nine for 20).

— Barry Faulkner