SALT LAKE CITY (March 17, 2026) – Washington State had its lead slip away in the middle innings in an 8-5 defeat to Utah at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City Tuesday afternoon.
Trevor Smith had three hits and reached base all five plate appearances, Matt Priest recorded his first career three-hit game and Max Hartman added two hits. The Cougars took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth before the Utes scored four times in the fifth to take the lead. WSU got within one after a run in the eighth before Utah added two more in the bottom half.
WSU used nine pitchers on a staff day but left 11 runners on base.
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Cougar starter Brock Blatter made his WSU debut, struck out the first batter he faced and posted a scoreless first inning.
Smith pulled a double to right field in the third inning and scored after Gavin Roy lined an RBI-single back up the middle for a 1-0 Cougar lead. Utah used a pair of doubles to the game in the fourth but WSU answered right back in the fifth inning as Smith's line an RBI-single to right field and Kyler Northrop scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the fifth, Utah used a pair of walks, four hits and a Cougar error to score four runs and take a 5-3 lead. WSU answered Utah's sixth-inning run with a seventh-inning Priest RBI-triple down the right field line.
Erik Rodriguez ended the sixth with a 4-6-3 double play and struck out two in a perfect seventh inning. WSU made it a one-run game with Roy's RBI-groundout in the eighth and the Cougars threatened with runners on second and third but the Utah bullpen ended the rally with a deep flyout to right field.
Utah tacked on two more runs in the eighth to build an 8-5 advantage.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Trevor Smith singled to lead off the game, extending his on-base streak to 17 games
Gavin Roy's RBI-single in the 3rd extended his hitting streak to 6 games
Taber Fast worked a scoreless 2nd inning
Trevor Stowe struck out the side in the 3rd inning
Alexandre Giguere's single in the 5th extended his on-base streak to 7 games
Ollie Obenour started at 3rd base after missing last 13 games, walked and scored
Erik Rodriguez worked 1.2 scoreless innings with 2 strikeouts
ON DECK
The Cougars will host Grand Canyon for a three-game series beginning Friday. WSU played its first 19 games of the season on the road.
Trevor Smith had three hits and reached base all five plate appearances, Matt Priest recorded his first career three-hit game and Max Hartman added two hits. The Cougars took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth before the Utes scored four times in the fifth to take the lead. WSU got within one after a run in the eighth before Utah added two more in the bottom half.
WSU used nine pitchers on a staff day but left 11 runners on base.
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Cougar starter Brock Blatter made his WSU debut, struck out the first batter he faced and posted a scoreless first inning.
Smith pulled a double to right field in the third inning and scored after Gavin Roy lined an RBI-single back up the middle for a 1-0 Cougar lead. Utah used a pair of doubles to the game in the fourth but WSU answered right back in the fifth inning as Smith's line an RBI-single to right field and Kyler Northrop scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the fifth, Utah used a pair of walks, four hits and a Cougar error to score four runs and take a 5-3 lead. WSU answered Utah's sixth-inning run with a seventh-inning Priest RBI-triple down the right field line.
Erik Rodriguez ended the sixth with a 4-6-3 double play and struck out two in a perfect seventh inning. WSU made it a one-run game with Roy's RBI-groundout in the eighth and the Cougars threatened with runners on second and third but the Utah bullpen ended the rally with a deep flyout to right field.
Utah tacked on two more runs in the eighth to build an 8-5 advantage.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Trevor Smith singled to lead off the game, extending his on-base streak to 17 games
Gavin Roy's RBI-single in the 3rd extended his hitting streak to 6 games
Taber Fast worked a scoreless 2nd inning
Trevor Stowe struck out the side in the 3rd inning
Alexandre Giguere's single in the 5th extended his on-base streak to 7 games
Ollie Obenour started at 3rd base after missing last 13 games, walked and scored
Erik Rodriguez worked 1.2 scoreless innings with 2 strikeouts
ON DECK
The Cougars will host Grand Canyon for a three-game series beginning Friday. WSU played its first 19 games of the season on the road.