SANTA CLARA, Calif. (March 23, 2022) – Washington State dropped a nonconference matchup 9-2 at Santa Clara Wednesday evening.
 
The Cougars (9-11) received a go-ahead two-run double from Bryce Matthews in the third inning but Santa Clara (11-7) used a five-run fourth and three-run fifth to pull away. Matthews and Elijah Hainline each recorded two hits for Washington State.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the first, SCU used three hits to push a run across for the early lead. The Broncos nearly had a 2-0 lead but leftfielder Justin Van De Brake threw out a runner trying to score on an RBI-single and starter Cooper Barnum ended the frame with a strikeout.
 
In the third, the Cougars received two-out hits from Kyle Russell and Jack Smith before Matthews went the other way for a two-run double off the left field wall for a 2-1 WSU lead.
 
In the fourth, SCU scored five runs on three hits as a leadoff walk and two-run homer gave the Broncos a 3-2 lead before adding three more runs on a three-run double to left centerfield for a 6-2 advantage. The Broncos used three hits, a walk and hit by pitch and a Cougar error to add three more runs in the fifth.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 
Kyle Russell singled in the 3rd inning to extend his on-base streak to 13 games
 
NEXT UP
WSU continues its eight-game road stretch with a three-game series at No. 18 Stanford beginning Friday.
 
TOP SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

Bryce Matthews gives the Cougs the lead in the 3rd!

WATCH | https://t.co/ABCFHLWbCI#GoCougs | @BryceMatthews24 pic.twitter.com/1SiWitEidL
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) March 24, 2022
 

4 batters faced, 4 Ks for the big fella!

E3 | 2-1 Cougs

WATCH | https://t.co/ABCFHLWbCI#GoCougs | @eliasfarland | @thechairleaders pic.twitter.com/ziPU8uYZEZ
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) March 24, 2022