EDINBURG, Texas – Washington State dropped its final game at the Al Ogletree Classic Sunday 9-5 to Houston Baptist University. It was the final game of a season-opening 11-day eight-game road trip that began with four games at Texas State and ended with four games at the tournament in Edinburg, Texas.

Five Cougars (3-5) recorded multiple hits including Patrick McGrath who hit his second home run of the season. Houston Baptist (5-3), who WSU beat Friday night, tallied 11 hits and seven walks and used a four-run fifth inning to erase a 5-3 WSU lead.

Washington State opened the game with a run in the top of the first inning as Trek Stemp led off the game with a single and later came home on Derek Chapman's infield single. Houston Baptist put a run on the board in the second before McGrath hit a solo homer to left in the third inning.

Following a two-run fourth inning by HBU, the Cougars put up three runs in the fifth inning, scoring two runs on an error and another on Ty Johnson's RBI-single to right field.  Houston Baptist came right back with four runs in their half of the fifth, using a two-run homer and scoring on a wild pitch and a two-out hit. HBU later tacked on two more runs in the eighth.

Washington State freshman starter Ryan Ward recorded three strikeouts, allowed one earned run on three hits in three innings.

GAME NOTES…Stemp recorded two hits and has hit safely in all eight games this season…Washington State returns to Pullman for an eight-game homestand beginning Thursday against Utah Valley University.