Cougars Drop Tuesday Afternoon Contest to Portland

PULLMAN, Wash. (May 7, 2024) – Washington State brought the tying to the plate in the ninth inning but dropped a 5-3 contest to Portland at Bailey-Brayton Field Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Cougars (20-27) received a pinch-hit home run from Brandham Ponce and RBI-singles from Kyle Russell and Joey Kramer. Will Cresswell singled to left with two outs in the ninth inning to bring the tying run to the plate but the Portland closer ended the game with a fielder's choice groundout to shortstop.
 
Portland (28-17) broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run fifth inning and held on for the win.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Portland scored a run in the first before Myers led of the Cougar third inning with a double to right-centerfield and later scored on a two-out RBI-single from Russell into left field to even things up.
 
In the fifth, Portland used three hits and three walks to plate four runs for a 5-1 lead. Ponce answered for the Cougars with an opposite-field solo home run to right field to make it a 5-2 game.
 
In the eighth, Alan Shibley worked a walk, stole second and scored on Joey Kramer's RBI-single back up the middle to make it a two-run game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Griffin Myers recorded his 1st career hit, a leadoff double to right-centerfield in the 3rd
Nate Swarts singled in the 4th inning to extend his on-base streak to 10 games
Giordano Mezzomo made his Cougar debut after missing last season with an injury
Joey Kramer singled in the 8th inning to extend his on-base streak to 8 games
Casen Taggart has his 8-game on-base streak snapped
 
NEXT UP
WSU wraps up its home slate with a weekend series against USC beginning Friday.