May 23, 2008
Box Score
PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State hit three home runs and Matt Way pitched a complete game as the Cougars defeated visiting USC 8-5 in Pacific-10 Conference baseball at Bailey-Brayton Field, Friday.
With the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jim Murphy capped a 4-for-4 night with his 16th home run of the season to put Washington State (29-25, 7-15 Pac-10) on top 6-5. It was the 33rd round-tripper of the senior's career, tying him with Beau Campbell for fourth on the all-time Cougar list.
With the victory, the Cougars clinched their third-straight winning season for the first time since 1994.
"Jim is having a great senior year and nobody deserves it more," WSU Head Coach Donnie Marbut said.
Freshman Shea Vucinich added a two-run home run, his first of the season, down the left field line off Tommy Milone (6-6) to provide the Cougars some insurance.
USC (27-27, 10-12 Pac-10) scored four times in the top of the first off Way (4-4). With one out, Nick Buss doubled and scored on a Grant Green single. With two outs, Hector Rabago singled in a run and Anthony Vasquez drove home two with another single.
The Cougars pulled within 4-2 in the second inning on a two-run home run by Greg Lagreid. After the Trojans added a run in the third, Washington State tied the game with three runs in its half of the inning. With one out, Paul Gran and Murphy singled to put runners at first and second. Jared Prince plated Gran with a single, Michael Weber doubled home Murphy and Alex Burg tied the game with a RBI-ground out.
"Matt Way had a rough first couple of innings, but he showed his maturity by coming back to shut them out the rest of the way," Marbut said. "He saved our bullpen."
Washington State 8, USC 5
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USC................. 401 000 000 - 5 9 0 (27-27, 10-12 Pac-10)
Washington State.... 023 000 120 - 8 12 1 (29-25, 7-15 Pac-10)
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Pitchers: USC - Milone. Washington State - Way, Matt.
Win-Way, Matt(4-4) Loss-Milone(6-6) T-2:14 A-506
HR WSU - Murphy, Jim (16); Lagreid, Greg (3); Vucinich, Shea (1).
