Hot Start Leads Cougars Past Nevada in Opener, 12-6

Friday, March 27

Bailey-Brayton Field

4:05 p.m.

Washington State University

11-13, 5-2

Nevada

14-9, 4-3

Nevada

Washington State

March 27, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score DONATE TO NIL GAME HIGHLIGHTS GAVIN ROY POSTGAME

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. (March 27, 2026) – Washington State exploded for nine runs across the first two innings Friday and never looked back, rolling to a 12-6 victory over Nevada at Bailey-Brayton Field.

Gavin Roy and Matt Priest each collected three hits while Priest drove in four and Ollie Obenour drove in three run. Ryan Skjonsby added two hits and two RBI while Mason Pirello scored three runs. Left-hander Nick Lewis earned the win, working seven innings and allowing four earned runs while walking none and striking out one to improve to 3-1 on the season.

The Cougars (11-13, 5-2 Mountain West) put the game away early, sending nine batters to the plate in the first inning against Nevada starter Alessandro Castro. Matt Priest sparked the rally with an RBI infield single to score Gavin Roy, and a sacrifice fly from Ollie Obenour made it 2-0 before Ryan Skjonsby and Kyler Northrop each added run-scoring squeeze bunts. WSU plated four runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman in the frame.

The Cougars came right back in the second, knocking out Castro for good in another five-run barrage. Roy started the inning with a single, and Priest — who finished 3-for-5 with four RBI — cleared the bases with a two-run double to left field. Obenour added an RBI triple off the right field wall, and Skjonsby drove in another run with a single through the left side. By the time Nevada reliever Aidan Brainard recorded the third out, WSU led 9-1.

Priest was the offensive catalyst all afternoon, collecting three hits, scoring twice and driving in four runs, including a bases-clearing double in the second inning. Roy went 3-for-4 with a walk, scored three times and worked the leadoff spot with consistent effectiveness throughout the lineup card.

Freshman Mason Pirello reached base three times — once on a single and twice on hit-by-pitches — and scored three runs batting second. Obenour drove in three runs on two plate appearances, including a triple and two sacrifice flies.

Lewis was efficient and effective through seven innings, surrendering home runs to Jacob Doyle in the fourth and a pair of sacrifice flies but limiting the Wolf Pack's damage. Reliever Taber Fast closed out the ninth.

Nevada (14-9, 4-3) pulled to within 9-6 through five innings but could get no closer. Lewis worked through the threat, and the Cougar bullpen held firm the rest of the way. Erik Rodriguez tossed 1 2/3 innings of middle relief, and Fast worked a third of an inning to finish.

WSU outscored Nevada 9-0 over the first two innings and converted with runners in scoring position throughout, going 6-for-17 with runners on base

ON DECK
The series continues Saturday at 2:05 p.m.