PULLMAN, Wash. – Junior left-hander Joe Pistorese pitched 8 2/3 innings and Washington State defeated No. 24 USC, 5-2 at Bailey-Brayton Field, Friday night.
Pistorese (4-2) gave up two runs on five hits, struck out four and walked one for the Cougars (19-22, 9-10 Pac-12). Freshman Ian Hamilton recorded the final out for his school-record tying 12th save of the season.
The Trojans (24-19, 12-10 Pac-12) scored twice in the top of the first, but Washington State responded with two runs in the bottom of the second against Wyatt Strahan (4-4).
Ben Roberts led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Patrick McGrath. Ian Sagdal plated Roberts with a single and took second on an error. Sagdal moved to third on a fly out by Trace Tam Sing and scored the tying run on an infield single by Collin Slaybaugh.
The Cougars snapped the 2-2 tie with a three-run seventh. Slaybaugh led off with a triple and Yale Rosen was intentionally walked with one out. Nick Tanielu doubled to score Slaybaugh and P.J. Jones added some insurance with a two-run single.
The series continues, Saturday at 2 p.m.
