NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Washington State's nine-game road trip ended with a 2-1 loss at Cal State Northridge in nonconference baseball, Monday.

The Cougars (9-12) lost three of four games against the Matadors (10-14) this season despite giving up just six runs.

Washington State needed three batters to get on the board, Monday. Collin Slaybaugh opened the game with a single and scored on a one-out triple by Yale Rosen.

In the bottom of the second, Cal State Northridge scored twice off Cougar starter Layne Bruner (0-1) with a walk, a triple and a one-out single. After the single, the bullpens took over and neither team garnered another hit until the seventh.

Washington State's Scott Simon retired the first 15 men he faced and finished with 5 2/3 shutout innings. Brandon Warner (1-1) set down the first 13 Cougars he faced before giving up a one-out single to Ian Sagdal in the seventh. Shay Maltese, the fourth Matador pitcher, worked the final two innings for his third save.

The Cougars open a four-game series in Pullman, Thursday at 6 p.m. against San Jose State.