PULLMAN, Wash. – Troy Rallings threw four innings of scoreless relief and Washington capitalized on five Cougar errors to salvage the third game of the series in a 5-2 win over Washington State Saturday afternoon at Bailey-Brayton Field.
With the game tied 2-2 entering the seventh inning, Washington took advantage of three Cougar errors in the frame to take a 5-2 lead it never surrendered. Chris Baker highlighted the rally with a two-run double to left and Brandon Bishop followed with an RBI single for the three-run lead. Rallings did the rest as he worked four innings, allowing three hits while striking out four to get the win and improve to 2-1 on the season.
The Huskies struck first, scoring an unearned run in the first when Matt Jackson scored on Branden Berry's single to right. Jackson had led off the game with an infield single to second.
Both Cougars runs came off the bat of Ian Sagdal, who connected for solo home runs in the first and fourth innings. They were the second and third home runs of the season for the Cougar senior and marked the first time a Cougar hit multiple home runs in a game since Trace Tam Sing did so May 16, 2014 at Stanford.
Washington tied the game in the fifth as it put together three singles and capitalized on Jack Strunc's fielding error, his first of two on the day, to push across their second run of the day.
Despite the loss Washington State won his second-straight conference series, also taking the first two games last weekend at then-No. 12 California.
Ryan Walker started for the Cougars and went a season-high four-plus innings, allowing two runs, both unearned, on four hits with five strikeouts. WSU used six pitchers on the day, with Matt Bower suffering the loss as he allowed all three runs in the seventh.
Washington starter Ryan Schmitten surrendered two runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings but did not factor into the decision.
Washington State returns to action Monday when it hosts New Mexico State in a nonconference game at Bailey-Brayton Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
