PULLMAN, Wash. (April 6, 2023) – Washington State dropped the series-opener 6-5 after No. 16 Arizona State scored three runs in the ninth inning at Phoenix Municipal Stadium Thursday evening.
 
The Cougars (18-10, 5-7 Pac-12) scored three in the first inning and Elijah Hainline hit the go-head homer in the fourth inning before ASU (21-9, 8-2 Pac-12) used four hits and walk to score three times in the ninth. Cam Magee, Jonah Advincula and Hainline each collected two hits and Sam Brown homered to support starter Dakota Hawkins who struck out four while working into the seventh inning.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Washington State pushed three runs across in the top of the first after a leadoff double from Cam Magee, Kyle Russell was hit by a pitch and Jacob McKeon pulled a single through the left side to load the bases. Sam Brown drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field, Advincula lined an RBI-single into centerfield and Bryce Matthews made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
 
ASU evened things up with a three-run homer to left-centerfield in the second inning but Hainline gave the Cougars a 4-3 lead with an opposite-field solo homer to right field to lead off the fourth. Hawkins settled in a fired six-pitch scoreless fifth inning and a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
 
WSU pushed the lead to 5-3 with Brown's solo homer to right field in the eighth. ASU started the ninth with a solo homer to right field. The Sun Devils loaded the bases with a single, walk and single before a sacrifice fly to right field tied the game and the next batter blooped an RBI-single into centerfield to score the winning run from third.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Kyle Russell was hit by the pitch 3 times
Sam Brown's 8^th-inning solo homer was his team-leading 8^th of the season
 
NEXT UP
The series continues Friday at 6:30 p.m.
 
TOP SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

BOOOOOMMMMMM!!! @sambrown2_ 

Sam Brown with the no-doubter deep into the Tempe night!#GoCougs | #WAZZU | #T124 pic.twitter.com/WupJ45uvA2
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 7, 2023
 

The Hawk works a 1-2-3 sixth inning, he's up to 5 Ks

E6 | 4-3 Cougs#GoCougs | @thehawk_29 pic.twitter.com/oNyHVkIgYT
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 7, 2023
 

BOOOMMMM!!! @ElijahHainline 

Elijah Hainline gives the Cougs the lead! pic.twitter.com/mnSgbfu8M7
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 7, 2023
 

WEB GEM ALERT! 

Cam Magee makes a diving stop to end the 3rd!#GoCougs | @Cammagee7 | @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/kMaMskGxvz
— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb) April 7, 2023