LOS ANGELES (March 26, 2023) – Washington State dropped a 6-3 decision to USC at Dedeaux Field Sunday afternoon.
 
The Cougars (14-9, 3-6 Pac-12) received a three-hit game from Kyle Russell, two hits from Bryce Matthews and Jacob McKeon doubled and scored twice. USC improved to 14-8-1 overall and 7-2 in conference play after scoring in each of the first three innings and answered a WSU fifth-inning run with two in the fifth and another in the seventh.
 
Cougar starter Caden Kaelber worked six innings and four USC pitchers worked.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Both teams traded runs in the opening innings as Greg Fuchs brought in a run with a fielder's choice groundout in the second but USC pushed a run across in the first and two more in the second for a 3-1 advantage.
 
In the fifth, Fuchs singled back up the middle and moved around third two outs later before Russell bounced a single back up the middle to score Fuchs.
 
Kaelber had settled in, retiring seven straight at one point before USC struck for a two-run double to right-centerfield in the fifth inning for a 5-2 advantage. The Cougars again made it a two-run game after sixth-inning doubles from Jacob McKeon and Matthews but USC came right back with a run in the seventh for a 6-3 lead.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Elijah Hainline singled in the 2nd to extend his on-base streak to 14 games
Sam Brown saw his 21-game on-base streak snapped
Cam Magee had his 15-game on-base streak and 11-game hitting streak end
 
NEXT UP
WSU hosts Linfield Wednesday at 2:05 p.m.