Washington State University Athletics
Washington State University
17-12, 0
Arizona
21-11, 0
Cougar Offense Comes Alive in 21-2 Win over No. 13 Arizona
April 16, 2021 | Baseball
The Cougars (17-12, 5-8) picked up the series-opener by scoring 15 runs in the first three innings and never looked back against the Wildcats (21-11, 7-6).
WSU collected 23 hits in the game, tied for the sixth-most in school history and the most since collecting 23 against Seattle, Feb. 21, 2010. Jack Smith led the way as he tied his career-high with four, while McKeon, Justin Van De Brake, Jake Meyer, and Kyle Russell each added three hits. The 21 runs scored by WSU tied for ninth-most in school history and marked the highest output against a Pac-12 opponent since scoring 21 against Oregon State, May 5, 2002.
Cougar starter Brandon White picked up the win to improve to 5-2 on the season as he scattered two runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Three other relievers came on to work a combined 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Key Moments of the Game
The Cougars struck early, putting up three runs in the bottom of the first as Collin Montez had a two-run single followed by an RBI double off the bat of Smith. The onslaught continued in the second as the WSU offense exploded for 10 runs in the frame. Jake Meyer led off with a triple and rest of the Cougars followed as Smith had a two-run single and Kodie Kolden added a two-run double as part of the eight-hit inning. The Cougars ended Arizona starter Chase Silseth's night after just 1 2/3 innings. Silseth suffered his first loss of the season after entering the game 5-0.
Trevor Long came on in relief of Silseth and the Cougar bats continued to find hits. Long worked the next four innings, allowing nine runs on 12 hits, including a grand slam in the sixth inning from McKeon, his second home run of the season. Collin Montez and Justin Van De Brake added RBI singles in the sixth to close out the Cougar scoring.
Arizona got on the board in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout to first base by Kaden Hopson followed by a Tanner O'Tremba RBI single, accounting for Arizona's runs.
White had loaded the bases in both the third and fourth innings, each time getting out of the jam unscathed thanks to strong defensive plays behind him. In the third, third baseman Smith fielded a tough chance and dove to the bag to get the force while in the fourth, an inning-ending double play was one of four turned by the Cougar defense in the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The Cougars' 8 doubles ties for the second-most in school history as the most against a conference opponent.
The 10-run second inning was the first for WSU since posting 12 runs in the first inning against Niagara last season.
NEXT UP
The Cougars continue their three-game series with Arizona Saturday at 2:05 p.m. from Bailey-Brayton Field.
TOP SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
3⃣⬆️ 3⃣⬇️ for @Brandon_white3 in the series opening frame!!! Cougs coming to bat!!!
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 16, 2021
T1 | 0-0#GoCougs | #TogetherCougs pic.twitter.com/LBxNrxC0Ge
Strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play for the Cougs!!! @Brandon_white3 sets Arizona down in order for the second-straight inning!!!
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 16, 2021
T2 | 3-0#GoCougs | #TogetherCougs pic.twitter.com/7BaDNKrVVb
2⃣ Hits, 2⃣ RBI for @kyle_russell710 here in the 2nd Inning!!!
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 16, 2021
B2 | 10-0#GoCougs | #TogetherCougs pic.twitter.com/8LhedbAxNB
.@Brandon_white3 gets the 6-4-3 double play to bring an end to Arizona's fourth-inning, bases-loaded threat!!!
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 16, 2021
T4 | 15-0#GoCougs | #TogetherCougs pic.twitter.com/uiLZpW8Dpu
.@jmac_1331 hits the top of the Bailey-Brayton Field scoreboard for a COUG GRAND SLAM!!!!!
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 17, 2021
It was 432-foot tape measure shot that gives the Cougs a season-high 19 runs!!!!
B6 | 19-2#GoCougs | #TogetherCougs pic.twitter.com/7rGiN6xLic
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: White, Brandon (5-2)
L: Silseth, Chase (5-1)
Batting:
2B: Berry, Jacob 1 ; Donahue, Kyson 1 ; Davis, Chase 1
RBI: Hopson, Kaden 1 ; O'Tremba, Tanner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Holgate, Ryan 1 ; Donahue, Kyson 1
HBP: Holgate, Ryan 1
PO: O'Tremba, Tanner 1
Batting:
2B: Kolden, Kodie 1 ; McKeon, Jacob 2 ; Peterson, Tristan 1 ; Smith, Jack 2 ; Meyer, Jake 1 ; Russell, Kyle 1
3B: Meyer, Jake 1
HR: McKeon, Jacob 1
RBI: Kolden, Kodie 2 ; McKeon, Jacob 6 ; Montez, Collin 3 ; Smith, Jack 3 ; Van De Brake, Justin 3 ; Meyer, Jake 1 ; Russell, Kyle 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kolden, Kodie 3 ; McKeon, Jacob 3 ; Peterson, Tristan 2 ; Montez, Collin 3 ; Smith, Jack 2 ; Van De Brake, Justin 2 ; Meyer, Jake 3 ; Russell, Kyle 3
HBP: Smith, Jack 1
