GU Rallies in Ninth, Cougars Drop Midweek Matchup

PULLMAN, Wash. (April 23, 2024) – Washington State brought the winning-run to the plate in the ninth inning but the rally was turned away as Gonzaga claimed a 6-4 victory at Bailey-Brayton Field Tuesday evening.
 
Washington State (18-21) traded single runs with the Bulldogs (17-20) in the fourth and sixth innings before Gonzaga scored four in the ninth. The Cougars scored twice and put two runners on in the ninth before the potential game-winning run struck out to end the game.
 
Third baseman Cole Cramer tallied two hits and scored twice while first baseman Joey Kramer drove in a pair of runs. Cougar starter Spencer Jones allowed just one earned run while working into the sixth.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the fourth inning, both teams traded runs as Gonzaga used a pair of singles and double steal to score a run before WSU evened things up with a Cole Cramer single, stolen base, GU error and Joey Kramer RBI-groundout to second base.
 
Jones was impressive, working into the sixth inning and exited after retiring the first batter he faced. GU rallied with two outs, reaching on a single, followed by a balk and wild pitch before a single through the right side brought home the go-ahead run.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Alan Shibley earned a leadoff walk, moved to third on a Kyle Russell single and scored on a GU wild pitch to even things at 2-2.
 
Haider fired scoreless seventh and eighth innings and nearly got out of the ninth inning but a couple pitches were called off the plate and GU pulled an RBI-single through the left side to score the go-ahead run. GU added three more runs to push their lead to 6-2. In the WSU ninth, the Cougars scored twice to make it a two-run game before the potential game-winning run struck out with two runners on.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Kyle Russell singled in 6th inning to extend on-base streak to 14 games
Max Hartman had his 10-game on-base streak snapped
Joey Kramer had his 7-game on-base streak
 
NEXT UP
WSU hosts Fresno State for a weekend series beginning Friday at 6:05 p.m.