Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State junior outfielder JJ Hancock drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to take game two 2-1 and split a doubleheader with Oregon at Bailey-Brayton Field Saturday afternoon. The Ducks won the opening game 8-2 with two runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth.
 
The Cougars (21-22, 7-13 Pac-12) saw Hancock record three hits in the opener and two more in the second game, driving a 1-2 pitch the opposite way over the left fielder for an RBI-single, scoring  Shane Matheny from third for the game-winner. Oregon (26-16, 9-11 Pac-12) won the first game behind a 10-strikeout performance from starter David Peterson who entered the weekend leading the country in wins and second in strikeouts.
 
In the opener, the Cougars missed a chance for an early run off of Oregon ace lefthander David Peterson in the first inning. Andres Alvarez and James Rudkin both walked before Hancock muscled a ball to left side that fell between the third baseman and the shortstop for a hit but the third baseman fired home to get Alvarez trying to score.
 
In the second, the Ducks picked up a run after a couple miscues by the Cougars. Oregon took a 2-0 lead after a hit-by-pitch, a walk and a throwing error after WSU had picked off a runner at first but the throw home to get a runner trying to score from third bounced away.
 
Washington State got to Peterson in the fifth inning as Matheny led off the inning with a line drive single to centerfield and Rudkin followed with single through the left side. One batter later, Justin Harrer pulled a single through the left side to load the bases for Ryan Ramsower who poked an opposite-field single to right field to score two, tying the game at 2-2.
 
Cougar starting pitcher Damon Jones worked a perfect fourth inning before giving way to freshman lefthander A.J. Block who cruised through the fifth and sixth innings, striking out three along the way.
 
The Ducks got to Block in the seventh, leading off the inning with a solo home run to right and followed with a double to left center. After a groundout, another run came home on a two-out single through the left side for a 4-2 Oregon lead.
 
Oregon tacked on four runs in the ninth to take the opener 8-2. Peterson earned the win after striking out 10 and allowing two earned runs on seven hits. Block suffered the loss after allowing the seventh-inning home run.
 
 
In game two, Alvarez led off the game with a double to right centerfield, was bunted to third by Dillon Plew and scored on Matheny's RBI-groundout to second for a 1-0 Cougar lead.
 
Anderson cruised in the opening innings, striking out five of the first six hitters and kept Oregon off the board through five innings. In the sixth, the first Oregon hitter was hit by a pitch and was later bunted to second. He then stole third and scored on an RBI-groundout to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Oregon starter Matt Mercer settled in after allowing the first inning run, retiring 21 straight after the Alvarez leadoff double. Hancock led off the eighth inning with a double to left centerfield and Harrer followed with a line drive to left before Blake Clanton walked to load the bases. Mercer buckled down to get a strike out, a fielder's choice force out at home before ending the inning with a fly out, keeping the game at 1-1.
 
In the ninth, Matheny pulled a one-out double to right field and Rudkin followed with a line drive single to centerfield that the Oregon centerfielder nearly came up with after a diving effort. With runners on first and third and one out, Hancock fouled off a pair of pitches before driving a pitch the other way for walk-off RBI-single, scoring Matheny for a 2-1 win.
 
Junior reliever Scotty Sunitsch picked up the win after a scoreless ninth inning. Mercer suffered the loss after scattering six hits over 8.1 innings. Anderson was impressive for WSU, scattering three hits, striking out six and allowing just on earned run in six innings of work.
 
The series rubber game is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES…WSU recorded its first walk-off game-winner since Patrick McGrath's walk-off it to beat USC in 2014…Matheny extended his hitting streak to six games…Hancock has hit safely in five straight games.