Cougars Post Road Win Over Grand Canyon in the Ninth

Tuesday, February 20

Phoenix, AZ

5:00 PM

Washington State University

2-3

Grand Canyon

1-3

Washington State

Grand Canyon

February 20, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score WSU-Grand Canyon BOX

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Washington State scored the go-ahead run with two outs in the ninth inning and held on for a 5-4 road victory over Grand Canyon University Tuesday evening at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.

The Cougars improved to 2-3 overall after beating the Antelopes (1-3) who were coming off a win over No. 7 TCU Sunday and claimed the WAC regular season title in 2017. Sophomore Dillon Plew recorded three hits and scored two runs including the go-ahead run in the ninth after starting the inning with a triple. Junior Justin Harrer had two hits and two RBI, driving in Plew with two outs in the ninth with a single through the left side. Senior James Rudkin added two hits and an RBI.

WSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead after collecting four hits in the first inning, getting RBI-singles from Harrer and JJ Hancock. The Cougars answered a Grand Canyon run with another run in the second inning after James Rudkin doubled off the right field wall for a 3-1 WSU lead. Washington State pushed the lead to 4-1 in the third inning after a Danny Sinatro two-out RBI-single right by the pitcher and back up the middle to score Hancock.

Cougar starter A.J. Block worked around a first-inning run and settled in, holding GCU scoreless until running into trouble in the fifth. Block issued a walk and a hit-by-pitch and WSU went to the bullpen where a wild pitch and throwing error on the same play resulted in a Grand Canyon run. In the sixth, the Antelopes used a leadoff triple, a hit-by-pitch, a RBI-ground out and bunt play that third baseman Dillon Plew made a nice play on the run but the runner was ruled safe at first to put runners on the corners. WSU struck out the next batter but the runner at first base got into a rundown long enough for the run at third to score and tie the game a four.

In the eighth, the Cougar bullpen came up big. Freshman lefthander Michael Newstrom, who worked a perfect seventh, recorded the first out in the eighth inning before giving way to Strange. The first two hitters Strange faced singled before the righthander induced a flyout to centerfield and Harrer ended the inning with a nice catch on the run in the left centerfield.

Plew opened the ninth with a rocket off the glove of the GCU first baseman and down the right field line for a triple. The Antelopes retired the next two hitters before Harrer pulled a 1-0 pitch through the left side to score Plew for a 5-4 lead. Strange stayed in for the ninth, struck out the first hitter, induced a groundout to Rudkin at first before Strange snagged a comebacker and tossed to Rudkin for the final out.

THE DECISION
Win – Nick Strange (1-0, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K)
Loss – Nick Ohanian (0-1, 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Dillon Plew recorded 3 hits, his sixth career 3-hit game and first in 2018
Plew's ninth-inning triple was the first of his career
JJ Hancock reached base three times, had one hit, one stolen base, one RBI and one run scored
Starter A.J. Block – 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Wyatt Segle, James Rudkin, Danny Sinatro and Dillon Plew have each reached base in all five games in 2018

UP NEXT
The Cougars continue on their season-opening eight-game road trip with a three-game series at the University of Alabama beginning Friday.

MOMENTS OF DAY

New combo tonight, new road crimson jersey with new gray pants!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/r2OZ5mTi8q
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 21, 2018

Plew starts the 9th with a triple off the 1st baseman's glove and down the right field line!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/bR9tUEULJB
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 21, 2018

With 2 outs in the 9th, Harrer pulls a single through the left side! 5-4 Cougs in the 9th!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/1oV0a3XkkQ
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 21, 2018

Cougs scored go-ahead run in the 9th and Nick Strange closes the door in the bottom of the 9th for the win!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/j6EcUYOIc2
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 21, 2018

Nick Strange talks after WSU's win at Grand Canyon and closing things out in the 9th!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/r5EjRyWxd4
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 21, 2018