PULLMAN, Wash. (May 5, 2023) – Washington State starting pitcher Dakota Hawkins struck out a career-high 12 in a 2-1 series-opening win over Washington in The Boeing Apple Cup Series at Bailey-Brayton Field Friday evening.
Dakota Hawkins was dominant, setting career-highs with 6.2 innings and 12 strikeouts, tying for the fourth-most strikeouts in WSU single-game history and second-most against UW, trailing only on the school record of 13 by James Freeman against SE Louisiana in 2005, Matt Way against Washington in 2009 and Zane Mills at Dixie State in 2021. Caden Kaelber picked up his third save of the season with 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out three and now owns 11 career saves, sixth-most in WSU history.
Elijah Hainline had two hits including the go-ahead RBI-double in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie and scored on a Washington balk later in the inning for a 2-0 lead. WSU improved to 27-17 overall and 8-13 in Pac-12 Conference play while UW dropped to 26-14 including 11-10 in league play.
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Both starting pitchers dominated early on as Dakota Hawkins allowed just one hit and struck out eight including six-straight hitters at point while firing four scoreless innings.
UW starter Stu Flesland III was impressive, retiring the first 12 hitters he faced before Kyle Russell muscled a single the other way and over the leaping UW first baseman for a single. Hainline followed with an RBI-double into the right-centerfield gap and Russell raced around to score, sliding in just ahead of the tag. Hainline later scored on a UW balk for a 2-0 advantage.
Hawkins stranded a runner in the fifth, ended the sixth with a 6-4-3 double play and gave way to the bullpen after allowing a two-out RBI single to right field in the seventh inning. Kaelber entered from the bullpen and ended the inning with a flyout to centerfield before firing scoreless eighth and ninth innings.
NEXT UP
The Boeing Apple Cup Series continues Saturday at 6:05 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jonah Advincula singled in the 6th to extend his on-base streak to 22 games
Jacob McKeon singled in the 8th to extend his on-base streak to 22 games
Sam Brown was intentionally walked in the 8th to extend his on-base streak to 21 games, had his hitting streak snapped 11 games
Cam Magee had his 8-game hitting streak snapped
TOP SOCIAL POSTS
Dakota Hawkins was dominant, setting career-highs with 6.2 innings and 12 strikeouts, tying for the fourth-most strikeouts in WSU single-game history and second-most against UW, trailing only on the school record of 13 by James Freeman against SE Louisiana in 2005, Matt Way against Washington in 2009 and Zane Mills at Dixie State in 2021. Caden Kaelber picked up his third save of the season with 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out three and now owns 11 career saves, sixth-most in WSU history.
Elijah Hainline had two hits including the go-ahead RBI-double in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie and scored on a Washington balk later in the inning for a 2-0 lead. WSU improved to 27-17 overall and 8-13 in Pac-12 Conference play while UW dropped to 26-14 including 11-10 in league play.
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Both starting pitchers dominated early on as Dakota Hawkins allowed just one hit and struck out eight including six-straight hitters at point while firing four scoreless innings.
UW starter Stu Flesland III was impressive, retiring the first 12 hitters he faced before Kyle Russell muscled a single the other way and over the leaping UW first baseman for a single. Hainline followed with an RBI-double into the right-centerfield gap and Russell raced around to score, sliding in just ahead of the tag. Hainline later scored on a UW balk for a 2-0 advantage.
Hawkins stranded a runner in the fifth, ended the sixth with a 6-4-3 double play and gave way to the bullpen after allowing a two-out RBI single to right field in the seventh inning. Kaelber entered from the bullpen and ended the inning with a flyout to centerfield before firing scoreless eighth and ninth innings.
NEXT UP
The Boeing Apple Cup Series continues Saturday at 6:05 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jonah Advincula singled in the 6th to extend his on-base streak to 22 games
Jacob McKeon singled in the 8th to extend his on-base streak to 22 games
Sam Brown was intentionally walked in the 8th to extend his on-base streak to 21 games, had his hitting streak snapped 11 games
Cam Magee had his 8-game hitting streak snapped
TOP SOCIAL POSTS
Senior golfer Darcy Habgood preps for Monday's NCAA Women's Golf Pullman Regional by chipping out the first pitch at Friday's Cougar-Husky baseball game.#GoCougs | #BoeingAppleCupSeries pic.twitter.com/K9nFwyQUiS
— Washington State Athletics (@WSUCougars) May 6, 2023
3 UP. 3 DOWN. 6 STRAIGHT CHAIRS! @thehawk_29
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) May 6, 2023
WATCH | https://t.co/DUM4VSdbee pic.twitter.com/46lXpiM7xn
Big E puts the Cougs out in front! @ElijahHainline https://t.co/boewYNI9EP pic.twitter.com/LmVYo27eGj
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) May 6, 2023
There's that man, Jonah Advincula leaps to make the grab in the 8th! @jonah_advincula
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) May 6, 2023
WATCH | https://t.co/DUM4VSdbee pic.twitter.com/rzBKY55K5i