PULLMAN, Wash. – Ian Sagdal's RBI single in the seventh gave Washington State a 6-5 lead and Ian Hamilton recorded a two-inning save as the Cougars defeated UC Riverside, 6-5, in the series finale Sunday at Bailey-Brayton Field.
With the win the Cougars take three of four against the Highlanders and improve to 7-5 on the season. UC Riverside falls to 6-7.
In a 5-5 game in the bottom of the seventh, Sagdal lined a 0-2 pitch to right, scoring Jack Strunc with the eventual winning run. The Cougars had jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first before the Highlanders rallied for three in the sixth and two in the seventh to tie the game.
Hamilton came on in the eighth to earn his fifth save of the season and received some defensive help as Brennon Kaleiwahea threw out Dante Chupek trying to steal second to end the eighth. In the ninth with the leadoff runner on first, first baseman Tyler McDowell snared a hot smash to start the 3-6-3 double play, erasing the threat. Hamilton retired Joe Chavez on a groundout to second to end the game and pick up his 20th career save, second all-time at WSU.
WSU capitalized on three Highlander errors in the first, sandwiched around four hits, to take a 5-0 lead. Wes Hatten opened the frame by singling up the middle and came home on a two-error play that was mishandled by both the second baseman and right fielder. Cameron Frost added a two-run single, Brennon Kaleiwahea's RBI triple and Jack Strunc's RBI double accounted for the Cougar scoring.
UC Riverside found the scoreboard in the sixth as Vince Fernandez tripled home Joe Chavez, who led off the inning with a walk. One out later, Mark Contreras doubled home Fernandez, cutting the Cougar lead to 5-2. The Highlanders final run of the frame came on pinch-hitter Adonis Morrison's single to right off reliever Matt Bower, scoring Contreras.
In the seventh UCR tied the game at five as Fernandez had the big blow, a two-run double to center, scoring Chavez and Zarate.
Cougar starting pitcher Layne Bruner went 4 1/3 innings allowing one hit, striking out five and walking five. Sam Triece came on in the fifth with one out and runners on first and second and sandwiched a pop out and strikeout around a walk to get out of the inning. Triece ended up working 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on two hits. Matt Bower (3-0) picked up the win, surrendering two runs in 1 1/3 innings before giving way to Hamilton.
UC Riverside starter Kevin Sprague suffered the loss as he allowed six runs, all unearned, in 6 1/3 innings. Fernandez led the way offensively for UCR, going 2-for-3 with a double, triple and three RBI.
The Cougars are next in action Thursday when they host Sacred Heart at Bailey-Brayton Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
--wsucougars.com--
