PULLMAN, Wash. – Ian Sagdal drove in five runs and Wes Hatten added his first career home run as Washington State defeated UC Riverside, 11-3, in the home-opener Thursday at Bailey-Brayton Field.
With the win the Cougars improve to 5-4 on the season while the Highlanders fall to 5-5.
Sagdal led a 14-hit Cougar attack as he was a home run shy of the cycle, driving in five and scoring one. Shane Matheny and Jack Strunc added three hits each while Strunc scored four runs on the night.
“Ian's a really talented player,” said WSU Head Coach Donnie Marbut. “Five RBI tonight, 3-for-3, hitting in the middle of our order - he's been in different roles throughout his career at Washington State. It's time for him to take his game to the next level.”
The game began with the Highlanders jumping out first as Dante Chupek led off the game with a double to left. Two outs later, with runners on the corners, Chupek scored when Robby Witt was caught attempting to steal second.
The Cougars answered in the second as Matheny's double to left-center scored Tyler McDowell, who reached on a walk. P.J. Jones made it a 2-1 WSU lead as Matheny scored on a fielder's choice before Sagdal's RBI single up the middle pushed the lead to 3-1.
UCR tied in the game in the fourth as Joe Chavez' two-out double scored Vince Fernandez and Mark Contreras followed with a single scoring Chavez, tying the game.
In the bottom of the fourth WSU recaptured the lead for good as Hatten connected on his first home run of the season, scoring Strunc, who led off the inning with a single. One out later, Cody Rogina came on in relief of starter Keaton Leach and promptly hit the first two batters he faced before walking Patrick McGrath to load the bases. Joie Dunyon relieved Rogina and was greeted by a Cameron Frost single to short, scoring Sagdal for the 6-3 lead.
In the fifth, Sagdal pushed the lead to 8-3 as his two-run triple scored Strunc and Jones. In the seventh he added a two-run double while Matheny's RBI double scoring McDowell in the eighth closed out the scoring.
Cougar starter Sean Hartnett (2-1) picked up his second-straight win, working six innings while surrendering three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Matt Bower worked two perfect innings in relief before giving way to Ryan Walker in the ninth.
“Sean had a solid performance tonight,” said Marbut. “Any time your starting pitcher lasts longer than your opponent, you have the advantage.”
Leach (1-1) suffered the loss for UCR, allowing five runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings.
The series continues Friday at Bailey-Brayton Field with first pitch set for 6 p.m.
--wsucougars.com--
