PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State starting pitcher Damon Jones fired five hitless innings and the Cougars used a three-run fifth inning to take the series opener from first-place University of Utah 4-3 at Bailey-Brayton Field Saturday night.

For the second straight start, Jones didn't allow a hit for the second straight start, posting a five scoreless innings for the Cougars (15-25, 8-14 Pac-12) who scored four runs on just three hits. Jones didn't allow a hit in his three-inning start last Friday at Oregon. Utah (16-24, 11-8 Pac-12) entered the week tied for first-place with the University of Washington.

Jones worked out of a jam in the first inning, stranding two runners before retiring nine straight. He picked up his first career win after throwing five scoreless innings and struck out two.

In the fourth, Shirer worked a one-out walk, stole second and advanced to third as the throw went into centerfield. Ty Johnson brought Shirer home with a groundout to second for a1-0 Cougar lead.

Washington State caught a couple breaks in the fifth as Mason Cerrillo reached on a throwing error and J.J. Hancock reached on a fielder's choice before both runners moved up on a groundout. Jack Strunc followed with a squeeze bunt that scored Cerrillo for the inning's first run. Two batters later, Dugan Shirer beat out an infield single to shortstop that brought home a run and Johnson followed with a bases-loaded walk to force in another run for a 4-0 lead.

WSU reliever Ryan Walker entered the game in the sixth and recorded two quicks outs before Utah muscled a ball into right field for its first hit of the game, similar to last week at Oregon when the Ducks broke up WSU's no-hit bid with one out in the sixth. Walker ended the inning with a groundout.

Utah got to Walker in the seventh, using a leadoff single and an opposite field two-run homer to left field that cut the Cougar lead to 4-2.

McGrath and the Cougar defense came up big with the Utes threatening in the eighth. With two on and one out, Utah pulled a sharply hit ball to McGrath at first who fielded, turned and fired to Strunc at second who threw on to Walker covering at first for the inning-ending 3-6-1 double play.

Lefthander Trenton Dupre took over for Walker with one out and one on in the ninth, worked around a double and ended the game with a groundout and flyout for his first career save.

The series continues Sunday at 4 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.