Bats Back Sunitsch, Cougars Beat USC to Even Series

Saturday, May 12

Pullman, WA

2:00 PM

Washington State University

15-26-1, 7-15-1

USC

22-23, 10-16

USC

Washington State

Photo by: Dean Hare/WSU Photo Services

May 12, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score WSU-USC BOX 2

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. – Scotty Sunitsch fired seven shutout innings and Washington State scored in each of the first four innings in an 8-4 victory over USC at Bailey-Brayton Field Saturday afternoon. The rubber game of the series is set for Noon Sunday.

Washington State (15-26-1, 7-15-1 Pac-12) had four players record multiple-hit games led by a three-hit performance by Dillon Plew while Andres Alvarez and Danny Sinatro each homered. The Cougars collected 12 hits and jumped out to an early lead after scoring two runs in each of the first three innings and added another run in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage and never looked back. USC dropped to 22-23 overall and 10-16 in league play.

Cougar starter Sunitsch worked out of some early trouble and posted seven scoreless innings, scattered six hits, struck out five and did not surrender a walk to improve to 6-2 overall including 4-1 in Pac-12 play.

In the first inning, the Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Andres Alvarez drew a leadoff walk and later moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Justin Harrer brought home Alvarez with an opposite field double down the right field line and Clanton followed with a long double to centerfield that scored Harrer for a two-run lead.

The Cougar defense backed Sunitsch by throwing out a pair of runners at home in each of the first two innings. In the first, Sinatro charged a single and fired home from centerfield to get a runner trying to score from second. In the second inning, USC doubled to left-centerfield and Sinatro corralled the ball and fired to the shortstop Alvarez who turned and fired a one-hopper to catcher Robert Teel at home to get a runner trying to score from first base.

In the second inning, WSU loaded bases before Dillon Plew singled back up the middle to score two runs. In the third inning, Teel pulled a two-out single off the wall in left field before Sinatro pulled a the first pitch he saw over the wall in right centerfield for a 6-0 Cougar lead.

In the fourth, Plew doubled to left-centerfield and Clanton brought him home with an RBI-double to right centerfield. In the sixth inning, Alvarez put WSU up 8-0 with a long solo homer to left field, a no-doubter for his career home run as a Cougar.

Sunitsch gave way to the Cougar bullpen to start the eighth and USC used four hits to push three runs across. Reliever A.J. Block entered the game with two outs and two runners on and ended the threat with a strikeout.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Scotty Sunitsch made career appearance No. 83, 3rd-most in WSU history
Blake Clanton doubled in the 1^st inning to extend his on-base streak to 7 games
Robert Teel singled in the 3^rd inning to extend his on-base streak to 9 games
Danny Sinatro hit his first career homer over the wall in the 3^rd inning, it was his second career home run after hitting an inside-the-parker against Santa Clara earlier this season
Andres Alvarez hit his first career home run as a Cougar
Dillon Plew recorded his 3^rd 3-hit game of the season, tying Alvarez for the team lead

TOP MOMENTS

Blake Clanton stays hot and makes it 2-0 with an RBI-double in the 1st

2-0 Cougs#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/UTS4GavFTl
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) May 12, 2018

ANOTHER ONE! Sinatro to Alvarez who makes the perfect relay throw to Teel who hangs in there to get the runner at home!

B2, 2-0 Cougs#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/PQrymKTngz
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) May 12, 2018

Pitchers ARE athletes! Sunitsch bounces off the mound to make this play to end the 3rd!

4-0 Cougs#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/8xpR4x03FB
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) May 12, 2018

Danny Sinatro hits his 2nd of the season and 1st over the wall after he had an inside-the-parker against Santa Clara.#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/ubUMCfh2u3
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) May 12, 2018

Andres Alvarez hits a no-doubter for his 1st career homer as a Coug...and then gets the silent treatment. Well done Coug dugout!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/vQ5BBXkqyN
— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) May 12, 2018