WSU baseball (9-15) took on the BYU Cougars (13-9) Tuesday in Provo, Utah, losing 9-3. The loss in Utah was WSU’s eighth consecutive defeat.

Justis Reiser earned his second pitching win of the season for BYU, his record now 2-1. For WSU, Cam Liss earned his first loss of the season, his record now 0-1. Both lineups of Cougs recorded seven hits with very different results.

1st Inning: 

WSU started the game off with Kyle Russell reaching on a BYU error. The next WSU batter hit into a double play to clear the bases. Bryce Matthews struck out to end the inning. BYU started the game off with a single. A strikeout, flyout and the base runner being picked off at second ended the first inning scoreless for both sides. 

2nd Inning: 

WSU went three-up three-down in the top of the second inning with three strikeouts, one of them looking. BYU got the scoring started for the game with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

3rd Inning: 

Another three-up three-down inning for WSU with two groundouts and a strikeout had WSU still looking for their first hit of the game. BYU continued their hitting from the second inning with a five-run third inning. BYU had three hits, including two RBI singles and a double. BYU also had help from WSU’s pitching, who gave up a walk, an error and hit a batter. By the time the inning was over, BYU found themselves up 8-0.

4th Inning: 

WSU was still hitless through four innings. Three groundouts from WSU led to them still searching for a hit. BYU’s hitting calmed down in the fourth, going hitless after putting up eight in the previous two innings. 

5th Inning:

WSU finally got their first hit of the ballgame in the top of the fifth. WSU started the fifth with a double and a single. WSU struck out and hit into another double play to leave a runner on base. The only base runner for BYU in the fifth was a walk.

6th Inning: 

WSU went back to struggling at the plate, recording yet another zero-hit inning with two groundouts and a strikeout. BYU added to their lead in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a run on a wild pitch. Through six innings, BYU led 9-0.

7th Inning: 

WSU got their first run of the game in the seventh on an RBI single from Elijah Hainline. Jack Smith scored on the Hainline RBI after doubling to start the inning, lessening WSU’s deficit to eight runs. WSU then flew out and struck out to end their offensive run and left two runners on base. BYU went three-up three-down in the inning.

8th Inning: 

WSU registered another hit in the top of the eighth inning, and Smith earned a walk, but WSU could not produce and left two on base. BYU registered another three-up three-down showing at the plate to head into the ninth. 

9th Inning: 

WSU showed some effort in their last at-bats of the game, scoring two runs and registering two hits. WSU scored on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly, but it was too little too late for WSU to start the comeback. Hylan Hall flew out to shortstop to end the game 9-3 in favor of BYU.

The next time WSU suits up is against the Utah Utes for a three-game home series. Game one of the series is set for 3:05 p.m. on Friday at Bailey-Brayton Field.