Meyer Homer Caps Cougar Comeback Win at Hawaii

Friday, February 18

Honolulu, HI

8:35 PM

Washington State University

1-0

Hawai'i

0-1

Washington State

Hawaii

February 19, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score Game Highlights Brian Green Postgame WSU at Hawaii Box 1

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

HONOLULU (February 18, 2022) – Jake Meyer hit a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning and Washington State beat Hawaii 5-4 in the season-opener at Les Murakami Stadium Friday evening.

The Cougars received a three-hit game from Kyle Russell, a two-run homer from Bryce Matthews and the bullpen allowed just one run over the final 7.1 innings to give WSU their third-straight season-opening win for the first time since 2004-06. Collin Montez reached base four times while righthander Tyler Hoeft earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief and righthander Connor Barison closed it out with a scoreless ninth to earn the save.

Hawaii jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a run in the first and two runs in the second but surrendered the lead despite being walked 11 times.

KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the first inning, Collin Montez worked a walk and stole second but was stranded to end the frame. Hawaii followed with a run in their half of the inning after taking advantage of four walks and an error.

Hawaii added two more runs in the second inning after three hits and a pair of walks for a 3-0 lead.

In the fourth, Montez lined a single to center and later scored on Justin Van De Brake's RBI-double to right-centerfield. Matthews followed with a two-run shot over the wall in right-centerfield for his first career homer, tying the game at three. Hawaii answered with a one-out double down the right field line to regain a 4-3 lead.

In the sixth, Jacob McKeon got things going with a single to left field and Jake Meyer followed with an opposite-field double down the right field line to put runners on second and third. Russell dug in and punched an 0-2 pitch the other way into right field to score McKeon as the tying run. The Cougars later loaded the bases but Hawaii ended the threat with a strikeout and a deep flyout to right field.

In the eighth, Meyer came up big for the Cougs, driving a 3-1 pitch the other way over the right field wall for a solo homer and 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Hawaii put a runner on second with one out but Cougar reliever Cam Liss picked him off and retired the next batter to preserve the one-run lead.

In the ninth, Barison allowed runners on first and second with two outs but closed things out with a groundout to first base for the final out.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Montez walked and stole second in the 1^st inning, his 12^th career stolen base and 1^st since 2020
Russell matched a career high with 3 hits, his fourth-career 3-hit game and sixth career multiple-hit game in 21 career games played

NEXT UP
The series continues Saturday at 8:35 p.m. (PT).

TOP SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

Oppo 🌮 for the lead!#GoCougs | @Jake_Meyer34 https://t.co/acmbREWgnA pic.twitter.com/ziVP9sAwPU
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) February 19, 2022

3️⃣ hits for #️⃣1️⃣#GoCougs | @kyle_russell710 https://t.co/tWx4zQXQ62 pic.twitter.com/EVRF1R1MTH
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) February 19, 2022

Pretty swing by Bryce Matthews for his first career homer!#GoCougs | @BryceMatthews24 https://t.co/cRGl4mgwJ4 pic.twitter.com/CAUgunGIRp
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) February 19, 2022

Here come the Cougs!@vandebrakej2 doubles to right-centerfield and Montez scores from 2nd to make it a 2-run game in the 4th#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/kyFxU1JQZi
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) February 19, 2022