Hancock’s Walkoff Single In the 10th Earns Doubleheader Split

Saturday, April 14

Pullman, WA

1:00 PM

Washington State University

9-19, 4-10

California

21-11, 7-7

California

Washington State

Hancock’s Walkoff Single In the 10th Earns Doubleheader Split

April 14, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Highlights: Cougs walk-off on Cal! 4/14 Marty Lees Cal Postgame WSU-CAL BOX 2 WSU-CAL BOX 3

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. – JJ Hancock's 10^th-inning walkoff RBI-single gave Washington State a 4-3 win in game two of a doubleheader with California at Bailey-Brayton Field Saturday. The Golden Bears took the first game 6-3.

GAME 1 RECAP
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after JJ Hancock scored on Robert Teel's fielder's choice ground ball. WSU starter Hayden Rosenkrantz cruised through the first couple innings before allowing a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the third inning and four runs on five hits in the fourth inning.

In the sixth inning, WSU pushed one run across after back-to-back doubles by Blake Clanton and Teel to cut the Cal lead to 5-2.

In the seventh, the Cougars added another run as Alvarez led off the inning with a double to right-centerfield and Hancock followed with a single to centerfield. Cal called upon its bullpen and induced a groundball double play that saw Alvarez score on and retired the following hitter with a ground out to third base, keeping the game 5-3.

In the eighth, WSU opened the bottom of the inning with a single from Teel to right centerfield and an opposite-field single down the left field line by Collin Montez. The Cal reliever kept the Cougars off the board after getting the lead runner at third base on a bunt, a foul out to third base and a ground out to preserve the 5-3 California advantage. The Golden Bears added another run in ninth inning on a sacrifice fly for a three-run lead and Cal closer Tanner Dodson pitched a scoreless ninth.

INSIDE THE GAME 1 BOX SCORE
JJ Hancock walked in the first inning to extend his on-base streak to 15 games
Hancock walked 3 times and singled
Justin Harrer and Blake Clanton have each reached base in 6 straight games
Andres Alvarez doubled in the seventh inning, his team-leading 7^th double of the season
A.J. Block worked a 3.1 scoreless innings for relief, setting a career-high with 5 strikeouts
Both teams left 10 men on base

GAME 2 RECAP
In the third, Cal loaded the bases and pushed one run across on a bases-loaded walk but Cougar starter Scotty Sunitsch ended the inning with a pair of strikeouts.

In the bottom of the third inning, Dillon Plew pulled a single through the right side and Cal Waterman followed with a double into the right-centerfield gap to score Plew and tied things up at one.

Sunitsch settled in and worked through six innings, striking out seven along the way. Sunitsch gave way to senior Ryan Walker who started the seventh where Cal used a triple, a walk,0 a stolen base and a two-out single into centerfield gave the Golden Bears a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, James Rudkin doubled to right centerfield and Dillon Plew followed with a walk. Pinch-hitter Robert Teel drew a walk to load the bases and Cal struck out the next hitter before Alvarez dug in and singled back up the middle to score Plew as the tying run. Teel also tried to score from second but was thrown out at the plate on a nice throw from the centerfielder to keep the game tied 3-3.

Walker stranded a pair of runners to end the ninth inning and worked to leave the bases loaded in the tenth inning before Hancock won it in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Alvarez pulled a doubled just inside the third base bag and down the left field line and Hancock lined the first pitch into right center and Alvarez raced around to score the game-winner.

Sunitsch went six innings, allowed one run on five hits, walked two, hit four and struck out seven after no-hitting Oregon last Sunday. Walker earned his 12th career relief victory after working the final four innings, allowing two runs in the seventh.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Starter Scotty Sunitsch made his 79^th career appearance, 3^rd-most in WSU history
JJ Hancock beat out an infield single to third base in the 6^th, has reached base in 16 straight games
Hancock finished with 2 hits and an RBI
Andres Alvarez had 2 hits, drove in the tying run in the 7^th and scored the game-winner in the 10th
Reliever Ryan Walker made his 76^th career appearance, 5^th-most in WSU history

NEXT UP
Washington State will head to Spokane for a Tuesday night contest against Gonzaga.

TOP MOMENTS

Cal Waterman ties the game with an RBI-double in the 3rd!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/UztrBTvVrB
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) April 15, 2018

WEB GEM ALERT! Andres Alvarez makes a diving stop and gets the runner at 3rd! #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/2MnBkWrDie
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) April 15, 2018

ANOTHER ONE! With 2 on and 2 out in the 9th, Alvarez makes this stop and throw!

Tied 3-3#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/GJqLjsb47g
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) April 15, 2018

Coug walk-off single beats Cal 4-3 in the 10th of game 3 of the series

Hancock drives in Alvarez from second after Andres' two-out double.
Alvarez diving play in the 9th preserves the tie

7th last AB W this year

13th, 1-run game, @Cougbaseball has won 9 of them#GoCougs
— Matt Chazanow (@M_Chaz) April 15, 2018

JJ Hancock delivers a walkoff RBI-single in the 10th! Cougs beat Cal 4-3 in 10.#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/BStsftGffK
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) April 15, 2018