Box Score
 
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State used an eight-run sixth inning to post a 9-3 victory and sweep the four-game series from Utah Valley at Bailey-Brayton Field Sunday afternoon.
 
The Cougars improved to 10-4 for the first time since 2010 and have won seven straight for the first time since 2013. WSU also records its first back-to-back series sweeps (3 or more games) at home for the first time since 1993 (4 at Hawaii – Hilo, 3 vs. Gonzaga in Richland, Wash.).
 
WSU received a two-hit game from J.J. Hancock and an impressive first career start from freshman lefthander A.J. Block who fired five scoreless innings, not allowing hit while striking out four and walking just one. The Bellevue, Wash. native faced the minimum through the first three innings, striking out two in the second inning before issuing a walk in the fourth inning and hitting a batter in the fifth but ended both innings with double play groundouts.
 
The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Cory Meyer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Both starting pitchers posted scoreless frames before Utah Valley pushed a run across in the sixth. With Block out of the game in the sixth, the Wolverines evened things up with a two-out single back up the middle off the WSU bullpen.
 
Washington State came right back with an eight spot in the bottom half of the sixth inning. The Cougars benefitted from seven walks in the frame but got a big hit from a freshman that got things started. With the bases loaded and nobody out, freshman pinch-hitter Johnny Sage came through with a two-strike RBI-single to left field to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead on his first career hit. Andres Alvarez then brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to right field and the next five batters walked before Hancock muscled a two-run single the opposite way into left field to make it 9-1.
 
The Wolverines added two runs in the ninth inning before junior lefthander Trenton Dupre ended the game with a strikeout. Sophomore reliever Caleb McAlister earned his first career win after getting the final out of the sixth inning before the offense put up eight runs in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Washington State will head to southern California next week, facing Long Beach State at 6 p.m. Wednesday before opening Pac-12 Conference play with a three-game series at USC next weekend. The Friday and Sunday contests will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.

GAME NOTES…James Rudkin extended his on-base streak to 11 games…Andres Alvarez extended his on-base streak to nine…J.J. Hancock has hit safely in eight straight games….Shane Matheny owns a seven-game hitting streak.