MESA, Ariz. – Washington State starter Sean Hartnett threw a career-high 7 1/3 innings and Ian Hamilton picked up his second save of the season as the Cougars posted a 4-3 victory over Oklahoma on the first day of the Pac-12/Big 12 Challenge at Sloan Park.
With the win the Cougars improve to 3-2 on the season while the Sooners fall to 3-4.
Hartnett (1-1) was solid from the start, allowing two runs on six hits with two strikeouts in picking up his first win of the season. He retired the side in order in the first, second, fifth and sixth and did not allow a runner past second outside of the fourth inning.
Leading 4-2 entering the ninth, Hamilton entered the game and Oklahoma's Anthony Hermelyn greeted him with a one-out double down the left field line. Quin Walbergh came on as a pinch runner and with two outs, scored from third on an infield single off the bat of Kolbey Carpenter, cutting the lead to 4-3. Hamilton then induced Chris Shaw into a game-ending infield pop up to second, earning his second save in his last two outings.
The Cougars jumped out in the home half of the first, scoring three runs for the early lead. P.J. Jones drew a one-out hit-by-pitch and moved to third on Ian Sagdal's single to right. Ben Roberts doubled to left-center, scoring Jones and putting runners at second and third. Cameron Frost grounded out to shortstop, easily scoring Sagdal, but Roberts' aggressive base running allowed him to also score on the play for the 3-0 lead.
Oklahoma found the scoreboard in the fourth as a pair of singles and a double steal put runners at second and third with no outs. Hartnett induced an RBI groundout off the bat of Hermelyn and a sacrifice fly from Austin O'Brien to get out of the inning with the 3-2 lead.
WSU added an insurance run in the seventh as Daniel Fredrickson drew a leadoff walk and later scored on Sagdal's RBI single up the middle. Sagdal ended the evening with a pair of hits and an RBI.
Oklahoma starter Robert Taslin (1-1) suffered the loss as he went just 2 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Carpenter led the way at the plate with a pair of hits and an RBI.
The Cougars continue play at the Pac-12/Big 12 Challenge Friday when they face Oklahoma State. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. PT.
--wsucougars.com--
