Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 TEMPE, Ariz. – Washington State closed play at the Husker Classic with a 7-6 comeback victory over UC Riverside at Tempe Diablo Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Cougars dropped their first game of the day 5-3 to Nebraska. WSU erased a 6-1 deficit to UCR with two runs in the seventh inning and four in the eighth while designated hitter
Wyatt Segle recorded WSU's first 5-hit game since 2013.
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GAME 1 RECAP
In the opener against Nebraska (3-1), Alvarez got things going in the first inning with a leadoff double to right center and later scored on a
James Rudkin RBI-fielder's choice groundout. Nebraska evened things up with a solo homer down the left field line in the second before the Cougs pushed one across in the second on an Alvarez RBI-single that scored
Danny Sinatro from second. Nebraska again answered in the fourth, taking advantage of a pair of hit-by-pitches and evening the score on an RBI-groundout. After six impressive innings, Sunitsch gave way to the WSU bullpen where the Cornhuskers rallied to push two runs across in the seventh after a WSU error brought home one run and a sacrifice fly made it 4-2. The Cougars cut it to 4-3 after a
Wyatt Segle RBI-single in the eighth but Nebraska added a solo homer in the ninth to retake a two-run lead and held on in the ninth.
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THE DECISION – vs. Nebraska
Win – R. Palker (1-0, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K)
Loss –
Michael Newstrom (0-1, 0.0 IP, 2 R, 1 BB, 0 K)
Save – J. Hohensee (SV, 1 IP, 1 K)
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE – vs. Nebraska
Sunitsch career-highs of six innings and 100 pitches, matched career-high with six strikeouts
Alvarez recorded two hits, his second straight multiple-hit game
Mason De La Cruz started at second base, recording his first career start.
Michael Newstrom (LHP) made his collegiate debut out of the bullpen in the seventh inning.
Nick Strange (RHP) made his WSU debut out of the bullpen and worked two scoreless innings.
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GAME 2 RECAP
In game two against UC Riverside (2-2), the Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning behind an RBI-single from
Justin Harrer. WSU freshman starter
Hayden Rosenkrantz cruised through the first three innings before the Highlanders used a pair of home runs to push three runs across in the fourth inning. UCR later added another in the fifth inning for a 4-1 lead. Washington State (1-3) had an opportunity to cut into the UCR lead in the sixth after Sinatro poked a single to left, Alvarez singled deep in the hole to shortstop and
Dillon Plew drew a walk to load the bases. The Highlanders ended the threat by getting a fly out to right field, stranding three to keep the lead at 4-1. UCR tacked on another two runs in the seventh for a 6-1 advantage. The Cougars answered with two of their own in the bottom of the seventh that made it a 6-3 game. WSU made their move in the eighth, all with two outs. Rudkin singled to centerfield, Segle followed with his fifth hit and Harrer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. UCR went to its bullpen to face
JJ Hancock who singled back up the middle to score two runs and cut the lead to 6-5. Following another UCR bullpen move and a wild pitch that moved runners up to second and third, junior catcher
Cal Waterman delivered a two-out two-run single back up the middle to give the Cougars a 7-6 lead.
Ryan Walker closed it out in the ninth to earn the win.
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THE DECISION – vs. UC Riverside
WIN –
Ryan Walker (1-0, 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 K)
LOSS – Matt Hardy (0-1, 0.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R)
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE – vs. UC Riverside
Wyatt Segle recorded five hits, the first five-hit game by a Coug since Adam Nebulowich against UCLA in 2013.
Danny Sinatro recorded his first career 3-hit game and owns three stolen bases this season.
Hayden Rosenkrantz made his collegiate debut, went 4 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 K
Ryan Walker tallied his 10
th career relief win, tied for fourth-most in WSU history.
Jack Smith singled to left field in the eighth for his first career hit.
WSU erased a 6-1 deficit with two in the seventh and four more in the eighth.
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UP NEXT
The Cougars will stay in Arizona to face Grand Canyon University Tuesday at 5 p.m. (PT)
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MOMENTS OF DAY
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