Box Score LOS ANGELES – Washington State scored four runs in the sixth inning and three runs in the ninth inning to post a 7-4 victory over Loyola Marymount University at Page Stadium Sunday afternoon.
 
The Cougars recorded a season-high 14 hits and erased a 4-0 deficit to improve their record to 3-3 while LMU dropped to 3-4. Five Washington State hitters recorded two-hit games while freshman designated hitter Jon Burghardt keyed a four-run sixth inning with a two-out two-run single for his first career hit, and junior Ryan Ramsower executed a perfect squeeze bunt in the ninth inning that brought home two runs on the play that proved to be the game-winner.
 
The Lions struck first, using three hits including a two-run double to right-centerfield in the second inning.
 
WSU had a couple tough breaks as Ryan Ramsower singled to right field with two outs in the third inning but Justin Harrer followed with a lineout to the third basemen. In the fourth, the Cougars saw Blake Clanton nearly beat out an infield single but was called out and the next batter, James Rudkin drove a ball the opposite way down the right field line and he seemed to beat the high tag as he slid into third base but was called out.
 
Cougar starter Cody Anderson worked out of a couple jams before exiting with one out in the fifth inning after issuing a one-out walk. Following a fly out and a stolen base, the Lions brought home a run with a softly-hit single to right field that scored the runner for second and added another run with a two-out RBI-double for a 4-0 advantage. Anderson finished with five strikeouts and three earned runs in 4.1 innings.
 
The Cougars answered back in a big way in the sixth inning, using five hits to score four runs and even things up at four. With two outs, Harrer drove a two-out double into the left centerfield gap and Cory Meyer followed with a groundball-single back up the middle to score Harrer. Clanton followed with a line singled to left field and Rudkin then beat out a high-bouncing infield single to third bases to load the bases for Burghardt. The freshman left-handed hitter took a two-strike pitch back up the middle to score two runs with his first career hit. Rudkin also came around to score on the play as the throw to third base sailed wide into the Cougar dugout, allowing him to trot home and tie the game 4-4.
 
WSU made a couple big defensive plays in the later innings, using a 6-4-3 double play in the seventh inning to stop a rally before and freshman catcher Cal Waterman threw out a Lion baserunner attempting to steal second to end the eighth inning.
 
Alvarez led off the ninth with a chopped infield single to shortstop and Chapman followed with a drag bunt single up the first base line to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Both runners then moved up a base on a wild pitch before Ramsower stepped in with one out and laid down a squeeze bunt. Alvarez scored from third and Chapman raced around and scored on the throw as Ramsower beat the throw to first base, officially credited with a two-run bunt single. Harrer followed with an RBI-double to right centerfield to score Ramsower for a 7-4 Cougar lead.
 
Junior lefthander Scotty Sunitsch took over on the mound in the ninth and worked around a leadoff walk and base hit by getting a ground out, a strikeout and a game-ending groundout to Ramsower at second base. Sunitsch picked up his third save to seal up the win for junior right-hander Colby Nealy who was on to get the final out of the eighth.
 
The series finale is set for Monday at 1 p.m.