Will Cresswell
3
Winner Washington State WSU 6-1
2
UC San Diego UCSD 2-4
Winner
Washington State WSU
6-1
3
Final
2
UC San Diego UCSD
2-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Washington State WSU 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 3 6 3
UC San Diego UCSD 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 1

W: Baughn, Andrew (2-0) L: Rissas, Ryan (0-1) S: Grillo, Chase (2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Washington State Athletic Communications

Cresswell Hits Go-Ahead Homer in Ninth, Bullpen Closes out Win at UC San Diego

SAN DIEGO (February 26, 2023) – Washington State catcher Will Cresswell hit a go-ahead solo home run with one out in the top of the ninth and the bullpen sealed up a 3-2 comeback win at UC San Diego Sunday evening.
 
WSU improved to 6-1 for the second time in the last three seasons after erasing a 2-0 first-inning deficit with a pair of runs in the sixth inning before Cresswell hit the first pitch he saw over the left-centerfield fence. Leadoff hitter Jonah Advincula recorded two hits including a double and a game-ending diving catch in centerfield while Jacob McKeon delivered the game-tying RBI-double in the sixth.
 
Cougar starter Grant Taylor allowed two-run double in the first inning before settling in and striking out seven in five innings. The righthander allowed just one hit in his final four frames. Cougar relievers Spencer Jones, Andrew Baughn and Chase Grillo combined to allow just one hit in the final four innings.
 
UC San Diego saw started Ryan Forcucci take a perfect game into the sixth inning before WSU rallied for two in the frame. The Tritons dropped to 2-4 overall.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the first, UCSD used four hits including a two-run double over the Cougar centerfielder to take the early lead.
 
Taylor settled in and posted four straight scoreless frames, making a nice play to snag a one-hop comebacker and firing to first to end the fourth inning and tallied two more strikeouts in a perfect fifth.
 
UCSD starter Ryan Forcucci took a perfect game into the sixth inning before Jacob Harvey lined a single into centerfield with two outs and Advincula followed with a two-out two-strike double into the right field corner. Harvey stopped at third on the play but came home after UCSD bobbled the relay throw, allowing Harvey to scamper home. The Tritons went to the bullpen and McKeon greeted him with an RBI-double into the right-centerfield gap, tying the game at two.
 
The Cougar bullpen received big efforts from lefthander Spencer Jones who worked a scoreless sixth and righthander Andrew Baughn who retired the only two batters he faced to end the seventh. The junior college transfer followed with a perfect eighth inning.
 
With one out in the ninth, Cresswell launched the first pitch he saw deep over the left-centerfield fence for the lead.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Baughn retired the first hitter with a groundout to third, Grillo entered from the bullpen and struck out the first hitter he faced for the second out but allowed a single through the left side. The next UCSD batter hit a shallow fly ball into centerfield where Advincula raced in for a diving, game-ending catch.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Brandham Ponce made his 1st career start, started at third base
Andrew Baughn earned the win to improve to 2-0
Chase Grillo notched his second save of the season
 
NEXT UP
WSU will close out play at the Tony Gwynn Legacy with a Monday afternoon matchup against UNLVA. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium.
 
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