FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 27, 2024) – Washington State rallied with four runs in the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings at third-ranked TCU but dropped an 8-7 decision in 12 innings at Lupton Stadium Tuesday evening.
 
The Cougars (5-3) recorded 16 hits and hit two home runs as Kyle Russell led the way with a career-high four hits including a leadoff home run, Casen Taggart had two hits and three RBI, Joey Kramer had a two-run double and Nate Swarts had two hits including a long home run. On the mound, relievers Kevin Haynes and Chase Grillo each fired three scoreless innings as Grillo struck out seven during the ninth, tenth and eleventh innings.
 
WSU scored four runs in the ninth on back-to-back two-run doubles from Taggart and Kramer, both off the left field wall, to tie the game at seven. The Cougars stranded a pair of runners in the tenth and left a runner at second to end the twelfth inning before TCU loaded the bases with three straight singles and two batters later, lined a single to left to score the game-winner. TCU, a Colle World Series participant last season and a preseason pick to win the Big 12, improved to 8-0.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the first inning, Russell jumped on the first pitch of the game for a long solo homer to left field for his first of the season and a 1-0 Cougar lead. WSU starter Duke Brotherton worked scoreless first and second innings before a couple defensive miscues led to two TCU runs in the third. In the fourth, the Horned Frogs used three hits and two walks to push two more runs across for a 4-1 lead.
 
In the fifth, Swarts made it a two-run game with a 434-foot solo homer to lead off the inning. Crew Parke and Russell each followed with singles to put runners on first and third. TCU went to the bullpen after a strikeout, got a flyout but Taggart delivered a two-out RBI-single through the right side to make it a one-run game.
 
In the bottom of the frame, TCU used four hits to get three runs across and build a 7-3 advantage. Both bullpens traded zeros over the next three innings as Haynes fired three scoreless frames for the Cougars.
 
In the ninth, Ely Kennell got things going with a pinch-hit single to left for his first career hit, Alan Shibley and Max Hartman each singled to load the bases with one out. TCU called upon its closer but Taggart took the lefthander the other way and off the left field wall for a two-run double. Kramer followed with his own two-run double off the left field wall to tie the game at seven.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Grillo struck out the side to send the game into extra innings.
 
Russell led off the tenth with a single into centerfield, one batter later Cressell worked a walk but the TCU bullpen ended the threat with a strikeout and flyout. Grillo closed out his third straight scoreless inning with three strikeouts to send the game to the 12th.
 
In the 12th, Russell singled to left for his fourth hit of the night and moved to second on a wild pitch but was stranded to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, TCU singled twice to open the inning and loaded the bases with a bunt single. Cougar reliever Andrew Baughn struck out the next batter for the first out and the next batter flew out to Alan Shibley in shallow right for the second out. The next TCU hitter singled the other way to left field on the first pitch to drive in the game-winner.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Russell was WSU's first leadoff home run since Jonah Advincula at California last season
Cole Cramer tripled in the 2^nd inning, has reached base in all 8 games in 2024
Taggart singled in the 5^th inning to extend his hitting streak to 6 games
Shibley singled in the 9^th inning, has reached base in all 8 games in 2024
Max Hartman had a pinch-hit single in the 9^th inning, has hit safely in all 8 games in 2024
 
NEXT UP
WSU returns to Pullman for a seven-game homestand beginning Friday against Rhode Island. First pitch from Bailey-Brayton Field is set for 4:05 p.m.