The Washington State Cougars made a statement in their home-opening series on Friday afternoon, pushing past the Grand Canyon Antelopes for a 7-3 victory at Bailey-Brayton Field. The win moves the Cougars to 8-12 on the season as they looked to bounce back from a tough road stretch.

The Cougars’ offense ignited in the third inning after a quiet start, jumping out to a 2-0 lead. While Grand Canyon managed to chip away in the fourth with a single run, Washington State answered immediately in the bottom half. Ollie Obenour and Ryan Skjonsby sparked the middle-inning surge, getting RBI hits to extend the lead to 4-1.

Washington State took full control in the fifth and sixth. After adding a run in the fifth, the Cougar bats stayed hot in the sixth when Matt Priest delivered the highlight of the afternoon, a two-run home run that cushioned the lead to 7-3. The offensive barrage featured 14 total hits, with Ryan Skjonsby leading the way with a near-perfect 3-for-4 performance.

On the mound, starting pitcher Nick Lewis provided a stellar performance, delivering six innings of work and striking out five batters while allowing only three earned runs. August Richie then stepped in from the bullpen to shut the door, providing 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and striking out three to keep the Antelopes at bay.

The Cougar defense was flawless on the day, committing zero errors to support a pitching staff that combined for eight strikeouts. In contrast, Grand Canyon struggled defensively with two errors, one of which allowed an unearned Cougar run to cross the plate. The Cougars continue their home-opening series with the Antelopes again Saturday at 2 pm and finish it on Sunday at 12 pm.