Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Despite a strong outing by starting pitcher, Aaron Trolia, the Cougar baseball squad lost 3-2, to Northwestern Friday, on the second day of the Oakland A's College Classic at Papago Park in Phoenix, Ariz.

Trolia, a transfer from Clemson, made his pitching debut for the Cougars (1-1), going seven innings. He stuck out four while allowing three hits and two runs, one unearned.

"It was a good game," WSU Head Coach Tim Mooney said. "We played well and we were in a position to win the game but we didn't execute when we needed to."

Senior Justin Hart and sophomore Zach McAngus both recorded a hit and a run for the Cougars. However it was not enough to stop Northwestern's (1-1) starting shortstop and winning pitcher, Jon Mikrut (1-0), who drove home the winning run off senior pitcher Garrett Alwert (0-1), in the ninth inning and closed out the game for the Wildcats.

In the top of the second Northwestern scored first when Anthony Wycklendt drove in Dan Brauer from third base.

The game remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Zach Franklin hit a double to drive in McAngus, who had reached third on a lead off triple. The Cougs had an opportunity to take the lead, but redshirt sophomore Franklin was left stranded on third while recording three straight outs.

The Wildcats regained the lead in the top of the sixth on an unearned run off of a sacrifice fly by Mark Ori to score Caleb Fields.

In the bottom of the eighth Hart doubled down the left field line and later a scored to tie the game at 2-2. Hart advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Justin McClure, and sophomore Jay Miller then singled to right field to bring Hart home.

In the final inning Northwestern scored what would be the winning run of the game when Mirkut doubled off left-handed pitcher Alwert, scoring Ori.

"One thing that we can take away from this game is offensive execution," Mooney said. "We had opportunities to produce runs, but we couldn't produce timely hits to bring those runners in."

The loss puts Washington State's record at 1-1. The Cougars resume play Saturday, Feb. 14, against Nevada at 2 p.m. MT, with Bryce Chamberlin expected to start for WSU.

Northwestern 010 001 001 - 3 5 0
WSU 000 010 010 - 2 7 1
J.A. Happ, Chris Hayes (7), Jon Mikrut (8) and Dan Pohlman.
Aaron Trolia, Garrett Alwert (8) and Zach Franklin, Brandon Reddinger (8).
W - Mikrut (1-0). L - Alwert (0-1). Save - None. HR - None.
T - 10:02. A - 450.
Northwestern Hits - Lieberman, Mikrut, Brauer, Pohlman, Fields.
WSU Hits - Ja. Miller, Farrar, McAngus, Franklin, Je. Miller, Henderson, Hart.
E - McAngus. 2B - Mikrut, Franklin, Henderson. 3B - McAngus.