WSU baseball is in full swing playing their first four series. With that there has been no shortage of notable moments, including a strong opening day performance that led to a win over Alabama, a Cougar pitcher dominating from the mound for six innings, followed by a strong relief performance from the bullpen. These are the best Cougar pitching performances from the last four series.
WSU vs. Alabama (Feb. 13)
The Cougs started the season off hot with an 8-4 win over Alabama on opening day for the NCAA season. Senior Luke Meyers got the start for the Cougs, going 3 ⅔ innings ending with four hits and three walks and one run. Gavin Deer pitched ⅓ of an inning earning one run and walking three. Redshirt junior Rylan Haider who went for two innings totaling zero hits and zero runs walking two, additionally he had four strikeouts. Kaden Wickersham took the mound in the seventh inning where he had no hits and no runs. However he did have a walk and strikeout. To round out the pitching for the Cougs, redshirt junior Scott Rienguette went for innings eight and nine, where he totaled two hits and earned two runs. He did strike out three.
Overall the team had a solid showing, striking out 11, walking nine and allowing six hits. This was an impressive performance on opening day for the Cougs, against an Alabama team with multiple offensive threats, and a top prospect in Justin Lebron. The Cougars were able to frustrate Alabama’s bats when they needed to most and while they did allow four runs to score they were still dominant from the mound.
“Really just stopping momentum throughout the whole game. Any change they had to get back into it, we shut it down the whole game. That was huge especially for our pitchers… defensive pitching the entire time,” said infielder Ryan Skjonsby
WSU vs. Cal Poly (Feb. 22)
Griffin Smith took the mound for the Cougars going for six innings. In his six innings he allowed six hits and two earned runs. He also had one strikeout and one walk. Lefthanded pitcher Taber Fast came in relief for the Cougs, in his two innings he allowed two hits and one earned run. He also had one strikeout and walk. August Richie closed out for the Cougs to secure the win.
“It felt great honestly. Fast ball was working… had a little struggle with the changeup, but did what we needed to do and let the people behind me make plays,” said Smith.
The Cougar staff was able to find production from the mound, ending the game with eight hits allowed, three earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts. The Cougs’ impressive pitching helped them break a four-game losing streak across two different series including losses in the first and second game of a four-game series against Cal Poly.
“Feels great, had a rough little stretch there and felt good to get back in the win column stacking days,” said Smith.
WSU vs. Long Beach (Feb. 27)
In game one against Long Beach State the Cougs called Derr to take the mound, he went 2 ⅔ innings. Haider got the next 1 ⅓ inning. Junior Erik Rodriguez pitched two innings allowing one run and striking out two. Smith got a call from the pen in the seventh inning where he allowed two hits. Rienguette closed out the game for the Cougs, allowing for four hits and an earned run. Additionally, he had a walk and three strikeouts.
The Cougars ended the game with nine hits allowed and four earned runs. As well as four walks and 11 strikeouts. The Cougs were playing game two of the day, they were relying on the bullpen to deliver and they did. This was a full team performance and they were able to work tougher through the nine to find a win.
