ROUND ROCK, Texas (Feb. 25, 2024) – Washington State dropped a 13-4 decision to Texas State but claimed the 2024 Karbach Round Rock Classic title at Dell Diamond after going 2-1 over the weekend, defeating No. 24 Kentucky Friday and Kansas Saturday.
 
WSU (5-2) held a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth before Texas State (4-3) exploded for nine runs to end the Cougars search of a 3-0 weekend. Designated hitter Casen Taggart recorded a pair of hits and three RBI including a two-run triple in the first inning while third baseman Cole Cramer also tallied two hits and drove in a run.
 
Cougar starting pitcher Spencer Jones scattered four hits and kept the Bobcats off balance while working into the sixth inning.
 
Washington State claimed its first tournament title since sweeping all four games to win the 2010 Brooks Wallace Classic hosted by Texas Tech. The Cougars went 2-1 on the weekend along with Kentucky but won the Friday matchup with the Wildcats. Kansas and Texas State each went 1-2.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the first inning, WSU took advantage of a pair of walks to Kyle Russell and Alan Shibley as Taggart lined a two-run triple into the right-centerfield gap for the early lead. Cramer later bounced a two-out two-strike RBI-single back up the middle for a 3-0 WSU lead.
 
Texas State pushed a run across in the third after a potential inning-ending double play turn went wide of first base and the Bobcats scored to make it 3-1. Jones answered with a 1-2-3 fourth inning and escaped a first and third jam in the fifth with a strikeout and shallow flyout to center field.
 
In the sixth, WSU loaded the bases after a Nate Swarts infield single, a Bobcat error and walk before Taggart worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in a run and make it 4-1. In the bottom of the frame, the Bobcats erupted for nine runs on six hits, two walks and a pair of hit-by-pitches to take a 10-4 lead. Texas State added three more runs in the seventh to push the lead to 13-4.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Shibley worked a walk in the 1^st inning, has reached base in all 7 games in 2024
Taggart tripled in the 1^st to extend his hitting streak to 5 games
Cramer singled in the 1st, has reached base in all 7 games in 2024
Max Hartman blooped a single into right in the 4^th, has hit safely in all 7 games in 2024
Lefthander Jack Lee made his 1^st appearance since 2022 after missing last season with an injury, he 1.1 innings
Trey Cruz had a pinch-hit single in the 8^th inning
Alan Shibley had his 6-game hitting streak snapped
Jack Wiese had a pinch-hit single in the 9^th inning
 
NEXT UP
WSU continues its stay in the state of Texas with a Tuesday night matchup at third-ranked TCU set for a 4 p.m. (PT) first pitch.