As Jake Fowler toed the rubber on the pitcher’s mound in the bottom of the first inning on May 8, it was one of those rare occasions this season in which he had a lead with which to work. A two-run lead, no less.

After the senior right-hander induced a groundout to second baseman Kaden Inman, Fowler walked the next batter and hit the next with a pitch. A moment later, head coach Dan Mulligan walked toward the mound to have a chat.

“I honestly don’t remember what he said,” said Fowler, who gave up six hits and struck out five during a complete-game…