Block Impresses But Utah Rallies for Win

Friday, May 17

Salt Lake City, UT

10:30 AM

Washington State University

10-39-1, 2-23-1

Utah

14-32, 6-23

Washington State

Utah

May 17, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score 19WSU-Utah BOX 2

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

SALT LAKE CITY – Washington State junior starter A.J Block worked into the seventh inning but Utah rallied with a pair of runs in the seventh to post a 2-1 win at Smith's Ballpark Friday afternoon.

Block was impressive, recording a career-high 6.1 innings, allowed two earned runs on four hits and struck out seven. The lefthander exited after allowing a pair of singles in the seven and both runners came around to score. The Cougars received a two-hit game from Danny Sinatro who extended his hitting streak to eight games.

In the fourth, Dillon Plew reached on a fielder's choice and Manzardo singled up the middle that saw Plew race around to third and Manzardo moved to second on a Utah throwing error. Smith stepped in a brought home Plew with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 1-0 Cougar lead.

In the fifth, Utah put a runner on third with two outs but Block came up big again, striking out Utah's best hitter to end the inning.

In the seventh, Block retired the first batter of the inning to set a career high with 6.1 innings but the next two hitters singled to put runners on first and second with one out. The Cougars went to the bullpen and a wild pitch moved both runners up a base before a sacrifice fly to right field tied the game at one and the next batter punched a single to right field to give Utah a 2-1 lead.

In the ninth, the Cougars put a runner on first with a two-out single but the Ute bullpen ended the comeback attempt with a strikeout.

INSIDE BOX SCORE
Danny Sinatro led off the game with a single to extend his hitting streak to 8 games

NEXT UP
The series wraps up Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (PT) on the Pac-12 Networks.

TOP MOMENTS

Big strikeout for @aj_block against the Utes best hitter, stranding a runner at 3rd to end the 5th! 6 Ks for AJ today#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/0wmUlQDDOP
— Washington State Baseball (@Cougbaseball) May 17, 2019

Check out this grab by @KyleTMazardo at 1st! @bush_ky approves#GoCougs | #WebGem | #Pac12BSB pic.twitter.com/dnPhMjC7os
— Washington State Baseball (@Cougbaseball) May 17, 2019

The Cougs take a 1-0 lead with a @JackSmith365 sacrifice fly in the 4th!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/pLwvbZcPeP
— Washington State Baseball (@Cougbaseball) May 17, 2019