Taylor Leads Cougars to Series-Clinching Win over No. 12 UCLA

Sunday, April 2

Pullman, WA

12:00 PM

Washington State University

17-9, 5-6

UCLA

16-8, 6-5

UCLA

Washington State

Taylor Leads Cougars to Series-Clinching Win over No. 12 UCLA

April 02, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score Game Highlights Grant Taylor Postgame Brian Green Postgame Pac-12 Network Recap

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. (April 2, 2023) – Washington State received six strong innings from starting pitcher Grant Taylor in a series-clinching 5-1 win over No. 12 UCLA at Bailey-Brayton Field Sunday afternoon. WSU recorded its first series win over the Bruins since 2017.

Saturday's game was postponed due to weather. Sunday's game was scheduled for 12:05 pm but was delayed until 1:25 p.m. due to weather. No makeup date for the third game of the series has been announced.

The Cougars improved to 17-9 overall including a 5-6 mark in Pac-12 Conference play after receiving home runs from Will Cresswell and Jonah Advincula to back Taylor who struck out five and allowed just one earned run to earn the win. Jacob McKeon and Sam Brown each collected two hits and Kyle Russell scored twice. The bullpen trio of Caden Kaelber, Cam Liss and Chase Grillo combined to work the final three innings and did not allow a hit.

UCLA dropped to 16-8 overall and 6-5 in league play.

KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the third inning, Cresswell led off the inning with a long solo home run to left centerfield, Kyle Russell muscled a double the other way down the right field line and McKeon bounced a two-out RBI-single up the middle for a 2-0 WSU lead. Avincula made it 3-0 with a solo homer to right field in the fourth inning and Sam Brown lined a two-run single into centerfield in the fifth inning for a 5-0 lead.

In the sixth, UCLA led off the frame with a solo homer but Taylor received a clutch double play. Magee at third base made a diving stop to his left, threw to second from his knees to Elijah Hainline at second base who threw on to first base. The call at first was initially called safe but was overturned to out after review. The Bruins put two runners on against Caden Kaelber in the eighth but the righthander ended the threat with a strikeout.

Liss struck out the only batter he faced to start the ninth and Grillo recorded the final two outs to seal up the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Elijah Hainline singled in the 4^th to extend his on-base streak to 17 games

NEXT UP
WSU will host BYU Monday afternoon at 12:05 p.m.

TOP SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

HOME RUN No. 4 for @w_cresswell14 https://t.co/XxhLVO2pR2 pic.twitter.com/n8XyX4AdxB
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 2, 2023

Home Run No. 3 of the season for @jonah_advincula https://t.co/jyOdNw8bwp pic.twitter.com/TnAIbbIgL5
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 2, 2023

Wait for it .... @kyle_russell710 and @Cammagee7

WATCH | https://t.co/KChHOEVG7r pic.twitter.com/2FzfCXU7pQ
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 2, 2023

Web Gem alert from Cam Magee in the 6th! @Cammagee7

Call is overturned after review, double ended the inning!#GoCougs | @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/khorA0hTjp
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 2, 2023

Chase Grillo closes out WSU's first series win over UCLA since 2017!#GoCougs | #WAZZU | #T124 https://t.co/pvADBt4jaZ pic.twitter.com/HZADVUZxiJ
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 3, 2023