PULLMAN, Wash. (April 1, 2022) – Washington State put the tying run on second base in the ninth inning but Utah (16-9-1, 3-4 Pac-12) held on for a 10-9 win in the series-opener at Bailey-Brayton Field Friday afternoon.
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The Cougars (9-16, 1-9 Pac-12) collected 15 hits, receiving three-hit games from
Kodie Kolden and
Collin Montez but Utah hit three home runs in a six-run second inning and withstood WSU's four-run ninth inning.
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KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the first, Kolden led off the inning with a double to left field and Smith followed with RBI-single through the right side to score Kolden for a 1-0 lead.
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In the second, Utah erupted for six runs on three home runs for a 6-1 advantage. The Cougars answered with a two-out two-run single into centerfield to make it a three-run game.
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WSU chipped away with an RBI-double from Montez in the third and a run-scoring sacrifice fly from Smith in the fourth to make it a 6-5 game. The Utes pushed their lead back to two with a two-out RBI-single back up the middle in the sixth inning.
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In the seventh, WSU put two runners on with singles from Matthews and
Kyle Russell with one out but the Utah bullpen ended the threat with a strikeout and long fly out down the right field line, preserving the Ute lead 7-5.
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Utah added two more runs with a two-out two-run double to left-centerfield in the eighth and tacked on one more in the ninth for a 10-5 advantage.
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In the WSU ninth, a single and pair of walks loaded the bases with one out before Montez blooped a single into center field to score a run and
Justin Van De Brake followed with a two-run single into right-centerfield. Following a Utah pitching change, WSU made it a one-run game with a
Jake Meyer run-scoring sacrifice fly but the Ute bullpen ended the game with a strikeout with the tying on second.
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INSIDE THE BOX SCOREÂ
Justin Van De Brake started in right field for the 1
st time in 2022, made 10 starts in RF last season
Kolden matched his season-high with 3 hits (vs. Texas A&M)
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NEXT UP
The series continues Saturday at 2:05 p.m.
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