PULLMAN, Wash. (May 9, 2025) – Washington State put the tying run on third base in the ninth inning but UNLV held on for a 4-3 series-opening win at Bailey-Brayton Field Friday evening.
 
The Cougars scored twice in the eighth inning to make it a one-run game before putting the tying run on third with two outs in the ninth before UNLV ended the comeback with a strikeout.
 
WSU received two-hit games from Max Hartman, Gavin Roy, Ryan Skjonsby and Griffin Myers while Hartman doubled twice in his return to the top of the lineup for the first time since April 12 after battling an injury. Roy had an RBI-double while Luke Thiele and Myers each had RBI-singles in the eighth inning.
 
Cougar starting pitch Luke Meyers was impressive, scattering six hits while working into the seventh inning while the Cougar defense turned three double plays but WSU combined to leave 10 runners on base.
 
UNLV turned a 1-1 game in the sixth into a 4-1 lead with single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings before WSU started its rally.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Both teams traded scoreless frames in the first three innings as Meyers ended the first and third innings with ground ball double plays. UNLV used a solo homer to lead off the fourth for a 1-0 lead but Meyers closed the inning with WSU's third double play of the evening.
 
In the fifth inning, Hartman pulled a two-out double to right-centerfield and Roy followed with an opposite-field RBI-double just inside the right field foul line to tie the game at one. UNLV came right back and loaded the bases with one out in the sixth and took the lead on a strike three pitch that got away from the catcher and back to the backstop, allowing the go-ahead run to score for a 2-1 Rebel lead.
 
UNLV pushed its lead to 4-1 with a two-out RBI-double to right-centerfield in the seventh a two-out RBI-single up the middle in the eighth inning.
 
In the Cougar eighth, Myers blooped an RBI-single into centerfield and Thiele followed with a line drive RBI-single to left field to make it a one-run game. Kyler Northrop followed with a lined drive towards right-centerfield that the Rebel right fielder ran down for the third out.
 
In the ninth, Hartman started the inning with a double to right field and Roy worked a walk to put runners on first and third. The next batters put down a bunt but the Rebel closer fielded and fired to third to get the lead runner. UNLV then threw out the second baserunner on a double steal attempt for the second out and struck out the final hitter for the final out with the tying run on third base.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Logan Johnstone singled in the 3^rd inning to extend his on-base streak to 6 games
Max Hartman doubled in the 5^th inning to extend his on-base streak to 10 games
Will Cresswell singled in the 8^th inning to extend his on-base streak to 11 games
Luke Thiele singled in the 8^th inning to extend his hitting streak to 8 games
 
NEXT UP
The series continues Saturday at 6:05 p.m.