Hawkins, Matthews Lead Cougars to Shutout Win at Portland

Tuesday, May 17

Portland, OR

1:00 PM

Washington State University

24-26

Portland

30-19

Washington State

Portland

May 17, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score Game Highlights Brian Green Postgame Dakota Hawkins Postgame

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PORTLAND (May 17, 2022) – Washington State starting pitcher Dakota Hawkins fired five shutout innings and Bryce Matthews homered in a 3-0 victory over Portland at Joe Etzel Field Tuesday afternoon.

WSU (24-26) saw Hawkins strike out a career-high 10 and allow just two hits while Matthews matched a season-high with three hits including an RBI-double and a solo homer. The Cougars put up a run in each of the first three innings before Hawkins and relievers Cam Liss, Chase Grillo and Caden Kaelber combined for 14 strikeouts and two hits in the win.

Hawkins improved to 4-0, Kaelber recorded his sixth save, Kyle Russell singled twice, Jacob McKeon doubled twice, and Nate Swarts added two hits including a triple.

Portland dropped to 30-19 overall.

KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the first inning, Matthews pulled a double down the right field line to score Kyle Russell from first base for a 1-0 lead. WSU added another run in the second after Nate Swarts tripled to centerfield and an Elijah Hainline RBI-groundout.

In the third, Matthews hammered a 1-1 pitch over the right field for solo homer and a 3-0 Cougar lead. Hawkins retired all three hitters he faced in the third and ended the frame with his seventh strikeout.

In the fourth, Portland record it's first hit of the game after a two-hopper to the shortstop was bobbled and a hit was awarded. WSU ended the frame with a strike-em-out throw-em-out double play as Will Cresswell fired to second to get the runner to end the inning.

Hawkins tallied two more strikeouts in a scoreless fifth inning, surrendering a single to centerfield before ending the inning with a flyout to center.

Liss took over in the sixth inning and ended the frame with a 6-4-3 double play and retired the side in order in the seventh to preserve the 3-0 advantage.

Chase Grillo worked a perfect eighth and Caden Kaelber closed things out with a perfect ninth.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Kyle Russell made his 1^st career start at shortstop
Drake Anderson made his second career start, started at second base

NEXT UP
WSU will close out the season hosting Arizona State for three-game series beginning Thursday.