The Cougs traveled to the Utah Utes for their final game before they returned to Pullman for the home opener. After dropping the single game matchup 8-5, WSU’s record falls to 7-12 on the season.
The duel got off to a slow start, with neither offense scoring until the top of the third. Outside of singles from WSU outfielder Trevor Smith and infielder Gavin Roy, as well as a single from Utah’s Daniel Arambulas in the bottom of the first, there was little to no momentum for either offense.
Things started to pick up for the Cougs in the top of the third. Following a Smith double, Roy managed a single up the middle that allowed Smith to slide in for the first run of the game. Utah, on the other hand, was unable to strike back with nothing but a walk in the bottom of the third.
While the third inning belonged to the Cougs, the Utes managed to gain some momentum of their own in the fourth. While WSU only managed a single hit from outfielder Matt Priest in the top of the inning, Utah finally managed to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Starting with a double from Cal Miller to right center, Utah’s Jet Gilliam hit a double to left field that scored Miller for Utah’s first run of the day.
With Utah tying it up, the Cougs were looking to get back on top entering the fifth. The offense got right to business with a single from catcher Alexandre Giguere. Following a throwing error for the Utes, Giguere was able to steal second third base, while a Kyler Northrop bunt led to a Smith single that allowed Giguere to score and Northrop to slide into third. A wild pitch from Utah allowed Northrop to slide into second, setting up the Cougs 3-1 going into the bottom of the fifth.
While the Cougs managed to regain the lead, the Utes had other plans. A walk for Luke Jacobs and a single for Jake Long set up Utah’s offense with a huge chance to score. A Giguere throwing error was just what Utah’s offense needed to score with Jacobs sliding in at home and Long snagging third. The scoring did not stop there for Utah as a single from Cameron Gurney allowed Long to score, while later on a Matt Flaharty single to center field allowed for both Gurney and Arambula to score two more runs, snagging four runs in the fifth for Utah and a 5-3 lead going into the sixth.
Things slowed down for both teams in the sixth and seventh innings. Outside of a left center triple from Jacobs which ultimately scored a run for Utah, there was no other scoring for either side in the sixth inning. Meanwhile the roles switched in the seventh as other than a triple from Matt Priest that scored Ollie Obenour for WSU, no other scoring took place for either team.
WSU managed their final run of the game at the top of the eighth. After two hits and a throwing error for the Utes, infielder Ryan Skjonsby came home on an unearned run, coming within one of Utah’s 6-5 lead. Utah made sure the comeback out of reach for the Cougs in the ninth, as following runs from both Jacobs and Long, Utah snagged an 8-5 lead going into the ninth.
Utah’s defense effectively ended WSU’s chance of coming back in the top of the ninth, allowing only one hit and zero errors. With no runs being scored for the Cougs in the ninth, the Utes pulled away with the 8-5 win at home.
Falling to 7-12, the Cougs will look to get the season back on track by winning the home opener against GCU this Friday, March 20.
