Box Score  
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State used a five-run fifth inning to post a 6-3 victory and clinch the series with No. 30 Washington in front of 1,324 fans at Bailey-Brayton Field Saturday. The series wraps up Sunday at Noon on the Pac-12 Network.
 
The Cougars (18-18, 4-10 Pac-12) clinched their third straight series from the Huskies (20-16, 7-7 Pac-12) after freshman centerfielder Danny Sinatro drove in four runs including a three-run triple in the fifth inning. Cougar starting pitcher Cody Anderson improved to 4-2 after allowing one earned run while striking out three in 5.2 innings and junior reliever Ryan Walker recorded his first save of the season after getting the final four outs, two via strikeout. Sophomore shortstop Andres Alvarez and junior first baseman James Rudkin each tallied two hits as Rudkin extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
 
Washington jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning, using an infield single and a two-out RBI-double to right centerfield to score the game's first run.
 
The Cougars erupted for five runs after sending nine men to the plate in the fifth inning. Shane Matheny got things started with a leadoff walk and Rudkin followed with a long drive off the wall in left center for double to put runners on second and third with nobody outs. JJ Hancock then walked to load the bases for pinch-hitter Blake Clanton who pulled a 1-1 pitch through the right side to even the game at 1-1. Sinatro followed with bases-clearing triple to right centerfield to push the lead to 4-1. Freshman catcher Cal Waterman added an RBI-groundout to shortstop bringing home Sinatro for a 5-1 Cougar advantage.
 
Anderson cruised after allowing the first inning run before running into some trouble in the sixth inning. He received a couple nice defensive plays to end a UW rally in the sixth, the first coming as Matheny made a diving catch to his left. Later in the inning, with two runners on, the Cougars went to the bullpen for redshirt-freshman righty Davis Baillie who saw Rudkin end the inning with a diving catch to his right at first base to keep the 5-1 lead.
 
Washington State tacked on another run in the sixth inning. Rudkin and Hancock both lined singles to left field and Clanton drew a walk to load the bases for Sinatro who brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 6-1 advantage.
 
UW cut the lead two 6-3 with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, using an RBI-double and an RBI-ground out to make it a three-run game.
 
In the eighth, the Huskies put two on with a walk and infield single with two outs and WSU went to the bullpen. In came Walker who ended the rally with a strikeout, preserving the three-run lead.
 
Walker ran into some trouble in the ninth after starting the inning with a walk and double to runners on second and third with nobody out. Walker buckled down to get a ground out to Matheny at third followed by a strike out looking before getting a soft line out to Plew at second to seal the 6-3 win.
 
The series wraps up Sunday at Noon on the Pac-12 Network.
 
GAME NOTES…James Rudkin had two hits, extending his on-base streak to 12 games…J.J. Hancock had a hit to reach base in his 12th straight game.