PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State suffered a tough 4-2 loss in 10 innings to the University of Southern California in the series-opener at Bailey-Brayton Field Friday afternoon.

The Cougars (12-22, 5-11 Pac-12) owned a 2-1 lead in the fourth and starter Ian Hamilton had settled into a pretty good groove before lightning and rain delayed the game 1:25 to end the junior's solid outing. Hamilton allowed two earned runs in 4.2 innings before the weather forced the long delay.

Redshirt-junior second baseman Trek Stemp tallied two more hits, extending his hitting streak to eight games, and also stole a base. Sophomore shortstop Jack Strunc also doubled home a run and sophomore third baseman Shane Matheny added an RBI-single.

Southern California manufactured a run in the first, using a single, a walk, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI-groundout to jump out to a 1-0 lead.

The Cougars received a couple clutch two-out hits in the fourth inning as Strunc drove a pitch into the right-centerfield that scored Cameron Frost all the way from first. One batter later, Matheny delivered with a line-drive single to centerfield that scored Strunc for a 2-1 advantage.

USC tied things up with a run in the fifth, scoring on an RBI-groundout before the weather hit, forcing a 1:25 rain/lighting delay. The bullpens took over and Ryan Walker led the Cougars with four straight scoreless innings.

USC opened the 10th with three straight singles before a sacrifice fly to centerfield brought home a run. Walker nearly worked out of the jam but another softly hit ball snuck through the right side of the infield to score another run. USC went to its closer Brooks Kriske who pitched a scoreless tenth.

Walker (5-2) suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings of relief, striking out two. The Cougars tallied eight hits and left seven runners on base.

GAME NOTES…Stemp extended his on-base streak to nine straight games…he also stole his team-leading 10th base of the season…the series continues Saturday at 2 p.m.