PEORIA, Ariz. (February 19, 2023) – Washington State closed out a perfect 4-0 opening weekend with an 8-6 victory over UC Riverside at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona, the spring training home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.
 
The Cougars beat Villanova twice and UC Riverside twice over the weekend for its first 4-0 start since 2010.
 
WSU leadoff man Jonah Advincula recorded three hits including his go-ahead two-run single that broke a 5-5 tie in the sixth inning. Advincula finished the weekend 8-for-16 (.500) with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, 13 RBI, three stolen bases and four runs scored.
 
Jacob McKeon homered and drove in four runs while Alan Shibley tripled and scored twice and Cam Magee also scored twice and drove in a run. The Cougar bullpen saw Andrew Baughn pick up the win in relief after striking out three in 1.1 innings, Connor Wilford pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and Chase Grillo picked up the save with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the second, UCR took advantage of a couple Cougar miscues on a failed pickoff attempt and a wild pitch to push a run across but WSU answered with five funs in their half of the frame. Shibley tripled home Nate Swarts with a shot to the left-centerfield gap and one batter later Magee brought Shibley home on a fielder's choice RBI ground ball. Advincula stayed hot with an opposite-field double down the left field line to put runners on second and third for McKeon who hammered the first pitch he saw deep over the left field fence for a three-run shot and a 5-1 lead.
 
In the fifth, UCR used a two-out two-run bloop double down the left field line to cut the WSU lead to 5-3 and another Cougar error and wild pitch plated another UCR run to make it a one-run game. The Highlanders delivered another two-out hit an inning later, singling past a diving shortstop to bring the tying run around to score.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Shibley was hit by a pitch, Hainline greeted a new UCR pitcher with a single to right-centerfield and Magee walked to load the bases. Advincula then pulled a 2-0 pitch into right field for the go-ahead two-run single and McKeon followed with an RBI-infield-single to shortstop for an 8-5 advantage.
 
In the seventh, the first two UCR hitters reached on a single and error but Connor Wilford kept the Highlanders off the board with a strikeout, a softly hit comebacker and a flyout to left.
 
Wilford fired a scoreless eighth and Grillo closed things out in the ninth to seal up WSU's 4-0 weekend.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Shane Spencer worked into the 3^rd inning and struck out 3 in his WSU Debut
Andrew Baughn made his 3^rd appearance in the first 4 games
 
NEXT UP
WSU will head to San Diego next weekend for the Tony Gwynn Classic hosted by San Diego State. The Cougars open the tournament Friday against UC Irvine.
 
TOP SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
 

J-MAC with HOME RUN No. 1 of 2023!#GoCougs | @jmac_1331 https://t.co/QDqdgCwTN2 pic.twitter.com/aR7hidgNLT
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) February 19, 2023
 

Jonah Advincula for the lead!#GoCougs | @jonah_advincula https://t.co/ycZI4MKWMz pic.twitter.com/lxrBCjhYMP
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) February 19, 2023
 

CONNOR WILFORD!@ConnorWilford1 fires a 1-2-3 8th with a pair of strikeouts!

M8 | 8-5 Cougs#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/2UgCAVPY8F
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) February 19, 2023