STANFORD, Calif. – Mason Cerrillo's two-run single keyed a three-run 10th-inning for Washington State in a 5-2 victory over Stanford University in 10 innings at the Sunken Diamond Thursday night.
WSU (8-12, 1-3 Pac-12) received two-hit games from Cameron Frost and Justin Harrer and an impressive relief effort from sophomore Ryan Walker who earned the win after allowing two unearned runs, one hit and struck out three in four innings. The Cougars held Stanford (10-6, 0-1 Pac-12) to three hits and overcame three errors. Harrer also drove in two runs, scored once and stole a base.
Cougar freshman starter Ryan Ward worked around some wildness in the opening innings with a couple strikeouts. The right-hander struck out four and allowed just one hit but also walked four before exiting with one out in the fourth. Left-handed reliever Trenton Dupre took over for Ward and ended Stanford threats in the fourth and sixth innings to keep it 0-0.
Washington State opened the seventh with Frost beating out an infield single and Patrick McGrath earning a walk. Pinch-hitter Jack Strunc bunted both runners up a base and one batter later, Harrer drove a pitch the opposite way into right field to score two for a 2-0 lead.
Walker took over for Dupre to start the seventh and pitched a perfect frame before Stanford got two back in the eighth, both runs coming home on a two-out Cougar error.
Walker retired the Cardinal in order in the ninth to set the stage for the Cougars in the tenth. Harrer doubled off the wall in left field to start the inning, one batter later Dugan Shirer walked and Trek Stemp blooped a single into left field to load the bases for Cerrillo who pulled the first pitch down the right field line to score Harrer and Shirer. The Cougars then tacked on another with a safety squeeze as Frost got the bunt down and Stemp scampered home for a 5-2 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Walker quickly retired the first two hitters before two runners reached with a walk and infield single. Walker battled and got the next batter to fly out to Frost in right for the final out and a Cougar victory.
Ward struck out four, walked four and allowed just one hit 3.1 innings and Dupre struck out one and allowed just one hit in 2.2 innings of relief.
GAME NOTES…Stemp extended his hitting streak to eight games and has recorded a hit in all 19 of his starts this season…Frost owns a team-best 10 multiple-hit games…the series continues Friday at 6 p.m.