EDINBURG, Texas – Washington State loaded the bases in the ninth inning but saw their rally turned away by UT Rio Grande Valley to fall 3-1 in Thursday's opening game of the Al Ogletree Classic hosted by UTRGV.

Trek Stemp led the way with four hits and Derek Chapman also reached base four times with two hits and two walks for the Cougars who had rallies turned away in the seventh and ninth innings. Both Stemp and Chapman each stole a base while Stemp scored the Cougars (1-4) lone run. WSU outhit the Vaqueros 9-5 but committed three errors.

UTRGV (1-4) pushed three runs across in the second, taking advantage of two Cougar errors, an infield hit and a two-out two-run single for a 3-0 lead.

WSU answered with a run in the third inning as McGrath beat out an infield single to shortstop to score Stemp from third. Stemp got things going with a two-out single and Chapman doubled to left center to put runners on second and third. Cameron Frost followed with a walk to load the bases before McGrath put the Cougars on the board.

Hamilton settled in after the second inning, putting zeros up on the board in his final four inning. He finished with five strikeouts and allowed three runs, just one earned on five hits in a career-high six innings.

The Cougars had a chance in the seventh as Stemp picked up his third hit of the night with a two-out single through the right side and Chapman followed with walk. UTRGV starter Johnny Gonzalez got out the inning with a strikeout to strand both runners.

In the ninth, WSU again put runners on as Justin Harrer doubled down the left field line with one out, Stemp beat out an infield single and Chapman earned a walk to load the bases. With two outs, Vaquero reliever Andrew Padron entered the game and struck out Cameron Frost to end it.

Gonzalez earned the win for UTRGV after allowing one earned run on eight hits while striking out eight in 8.1 innings. Padron earned the save.

GAME NOTES…Stemp matched his career high with four hits after doing so against Texas State in 2014…Stemp has hit safely in all five games this season…freshman reliever Davis Baillie pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings for the Cougars…Washington State continues play in the Al Ogletree Classic Friday again Houston Baptist at 1 p.m. (PT).