PULLMAN, Wash. (April 23, 2023) – Washington State clinched the series over Santa Clara but dropped the series-finale 8-3 at Bailey-Brayton Field Sunday afternoon.
 
WSU (24-14) received a two-run double from Sam Brown in the first inning but the Broncos answered with a run in the third inning and took the lead with a two-run home run in the fourth off the Cougar bullpen. Santa Clara (19-15) pulled away with four runs in the sixth inning. Jonah Advincula tallied two hits and stole a base.
 
The Cougars have two straight series after taking two of three from Arizona last weekend and three of their last four after taking two games from No. 12 UCLA in early April. WSU had won six straight nonconference games before the Broncos claimed the finale.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the first, Advincula lined a single into centerfield and McKeon followed with an opposite-field single through the right side before Brown drove the first pitch he saw the other way off the left field wall for a two-run double.
 
Santa Clara used a two-out RBI-double off the wall in left-centerfield to cut the lead to 2-1 in the third inning and took a 3-2 lead with a two-run home run in the fourth. The Broncos added a solo homer and a three-run home run in the sixth inning for a 7-2 advantage.
 
In the seventh, WSU loaded the bases with nobody out but the Santa Clara bullpen limited the threat to just one run on a wild pitch and ended the inning with three straight strikeouts.
 
NEXT UP
WSU heads to Utah for a four-game road trip beginning Wednesday at Utah Valley.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jonah Advincula singled in the 1st to extend his on-base streak to 16 games, hitting streak to 9
Jacob McKeon singled in the 1st to extend his on-base streak to 16 games
Sam Brown doubled in the 1st to extend his on-base streak to 15 games, hitting streak to 6
Kyle Russell had his 16-game on-base streak end