PULLMAN, Wash. – Ben Roberts hit his first home run of the season and Cameron Frost knocked in a pair as the Cougars win their second consecutive home-series with a 5-2 victory over Sacred Heart, Saturday at Bailey-Brayton Field.

The victory improves the Cougars to 10-5, while the Pioneers remain winless in seven games.

For the third-straight day, Sacred Heart took no time getting on the board. Zack Short gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead in the first, lining a two-run home run to left, following a Ted Shaw single.

Roberts quickly put the Cougars on the board and cut the lead in half, smashing the first pitch he saw to straightaway center. The Cougars tied the game as Jack Strunc drove in Tyler McDowell with a RBI single later in the frame.

The Cougars took the lead in the third after Frost laced a two-run triple off the right field wall, scoring Ian Sagdal and Wes Leow. Washington State tacked on an insurance run in the eighth making it 5-2 as Shane Matheny came around to score on a fielding error by Pioneer second basemen Shaw.

Cougar starter Nick Leonard (1-2) picked up his first career win in a controlled start by going four innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four. Colby Nealy and Ryan Walker both went two shutout innings each in relief before giving way to closer Ian Hamilton. Hamilton picked up his sixth save of the season, needing only ten pitches to strike out all three batters he faced.

James Cooksey (0-1) suffered the loss allowing four runs on seven hits, striking out three while walking three in three solid innings.

The Cougars go for the sweep over Sacred Heart, as freshman southpaw Layne Bruner is scheduled to take the mound Sunday, wrapping up their eight-game homestand with first pitch slated for Noon.

--wsucougars.com--