Washington State University Athletics
Cougars Fall In Series-Opener Against McNeese State
May 20, 2016 | Baseball
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State dropped a 10-2 contest in the nonconference series-opener to McNeese State University at Bailey-Brayton Field Thursday evening.
The Cougars dropped to 17-31 overall and McNeese State, out of Louisiana, improved to 27-22 after an impressive starting pitching performance from Kaleb Fontenot who struck out six and surrendered three hits in seven shutout innings. For WSU, freshman reliever Caleb McAlister allowed one hit and two unearned runs in 4.1 innings.
McNeese State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first with two walks and base hit before adding three more in the second for a 4-0 advantage. In the fourth, the Cougars received two-out singles from Shane Matheny to right field and Patrick McGrath to centerfield but McNeese State ended the threat with a groundout.
The Cowboys put the game out of reach with six runs in the fifth, using a two-run single, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and three runs scored after the Cougars misplayed a ball in left field that pushed the MSU lead to 10-0.
WSU picked up a run in the eighth as Stefan Van Horn led off the inning with a double to left and later scored on Jack Strunc's infield single. A couple batters later, Matheny brought home Strunc with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Cougar starter Ryan Ward took the loss after allowing four earned runs in four hits in two innings.
The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader, a pair of seven-inning games, starting at 2 p.m.
