Washington State University Athletics
Friday Doubleheader Goes To McNeese State
May 21, 2016 | Baseball
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State lost a pair of games to visiting McNeese State University 8-2 and 6-2 at Bailey-Brayton Field Friday. Both games of the doubleheader were seven-inning contests.
The Cougars received a two-hit game from Stefan Van Horn in the opener and two hits from J.J. Hancock in the second game. Washington State dropped to 17-33 overall while McNeese State improved to 29-22 after posting 10 hits in each contest. In game two for the Cougars, starter Ian Hamilton allowed just two earned runs and struck out five in six innings. Hamilton moved into a tie for tenth place in WSU history with his 69th career pitching appearance.
In game one, McNeese State used a WSU error and three hits to push three runs across in the first inning for an early 3-0 lead. The Cougars answered back with a run in the second as Patrick McGrath pulled a single through the left side and later scored on Van Horn's RBI-triple deep to right centerfield. With the bases loaded and one out, Dugan Shirer picked up an RBI with a fielder's choice to cut the lead to 3-2.
The Cowboys got two runs back in the fourth with a two-run home run to left field. McNeese State later tacked on another with a sacrifice fly to left field in the sixth and added RBI-singles in the seventh and eighth innings for an 8-2 win.
In game two, McNeese State took a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the third inning but the Cougars answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Justin Harrer led off the inning with a walk, was bunted to second and came home on Hancock's single through the left side. Hancock then stole second and come home on Shane Matheny's line drive single to centerfield for a 2-1 WSU lead.
McNeese State came right back with a solo home run to right field to lead off the fourth, evening things up at 2-2.
Washington State threatened in the fifth as Hancock singled to centerfield and moved around to third on a groundout and a wild pitch but was stranded as MSU ended the inning with a strikeout.
Hamilton came up big for the Cougars in the sixth, ending a second and third threat with a strikeout, his fifth of the game.
The Cowboys opened the seventh with a walk and two singles to load the bases off the WSU bullpen. The Cougars got a strikeout but the next batter walked to force in a run for a one-run MSU lead. McNeese State added another run on a fielder's choice, one more after a wild pitch on a strikeout with two outs and another with an RBI-single to centerfield for a 6-2 lead.
The series concludes Saturday at 2 p.m.
