PULLMAN, Wash. (May 3, 2025) – Washington State dropped a 10-3 contest to Air Force at Bailey-Brayton Field Saturday evening.
 
The series rubber game is set for Sunday at 12:05 p.m.
 
Washington State received two-hit games from Logan Johnstone and Jonah Shull while Griffin Myers delivered a pinch-hit RBI-single. Freshman lefthanded reliever Gavin Derr worked 2.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
 
Air Force used a pair of two-run second and third innings to build a 4-0 lead and back starter Cranz Smelcer who worked 7.2 innings and did not allow a run until the eighth. The Cougars combined to leave nine runners on base.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Air Force struck first with a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly and a two-out RBI-single in the second inning before adding two more runs on three hits in the third inning.
 
WSU put two runners on in the fourth inning but Air Force ended the threat with a 6-4-3 double play. The Cougars again threatened in the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out but the Falcons again kept WSU off the scoreboard with a lineout to shortstop and a groundout to shortstop.
 
Air Force took advantage of a two-out Cougar throwing error, following with a double to right field and a single through the left side to add two more runs for a 6-0 advantage. Myers delivered a pinch-hit RBI-single to left field in the eighth and Johnstone followed with an RBI-single back up the middle to make it 7-2 with two outs. The Cougars put two runners on with two outs, Air Force went to the bullpen and ended the threat with a ground ball to shortstop who stepped on second for the third out.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Max Hartman started for the first time since April 12 after missing the previous 9 games with an injury
Jonah Shull singled in the 3^rd inning to extend his hitting streak to 6 games
Max Hartman walked in the 4^th inning to extend his on-base streak to 9 games
Luke Thiele singled in the 7^th inning to extend his hitting streak to 5 games
Kyler Northrop was hit by the pitch in the 8^th inning to extend his on-base streak to 18 games
Will Cresswell singled in the 8^th inning to extend his on-base streak to 8 games
Jack Weise had a pinch-hit single in the 9^th inning
Kyler Northrop had his 17-game hitting streak snapped
 
NEXT UP
The series wraps up Sunday at 12:05 p.m.