NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Tyler McDowell's two-run double gave Washington State the lead and Ian Hamilton's four-out save preserved the win as the Cougars came away with a 4-3 victory over Stephen F. Austin Monday night at Jaycees Field.
With the win the Cougars even their season record at 2-2 while SFA falls to 1-3.
Trailing 3-2 through five innings, Pat McGrath drew a one-out walk to start the comeback in the sixth. Wes Hatten reached via hit-by-pitch and a walk to Shane Matheny loaded the bases for McDowell, who doubled home McGrath and Hatten for the lead.
Hamilton came on in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and runners on second and third. Following a walk, the All-American reliever got out of trouble when Conner Fikes flied out to center, ending the threat. In the bottom of the ninth Nick Ramos singled to lead off the frame, but Hamilton induced O'Neill into a 4-6-3 double play then got Garrett McMullen to pop out to end the game.
“Our pitching saved us tonight,” said WSU Head Coach Donnie Marbut. “It was an odd game offensively, not being able to execute, but we got a great effort on the mound. Our goal each game is to give up less than four runs and tonight we did that.”
The Cougars struck first as Jack Strunc came home on a one-out error by first baseman Dan O'Neill off the bat of Ben Roberts. Strunc came on as a pinch runner for Shea Donlin, who led off the game with a walk. In the third WSU pushed the lead to 2-0 as Strunc walked and later scored on Ian Sagdal's single to left.
The Lumberjacks scored an unearned run in the third and then took their only lead of the game in the fourth following an RBI single from Will Vest and a steal of home by Anthony Soriano.
Matt Bower picked up his first win of the season after working 2 2/3 innings of one-hit ball. Bower had seven of the team's 15 strikeouts on the night. Offensively, the Cougars managed just two hits but both produced runs.
“We are excited to head to Arizona, play in some nice weather and just get better every day,” said Marbut.
The Cougars are next in action Thursday when they face Oklahoma in the Pac-12/Big 12 Challenge in Mesa, Ariz. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. PT.
--wsucougars.com--
