A few lucky breaks and a 10th inning home run helped erase a four run deficit and clinch the Cougars’ first win of the season Monday night against Texas State.

Down 7-3, Redshirt junior second baseman Trek Stemp and sophomore left fielder Derek Chapman singled back-to-back to give Washington State life.

A wild pitch allowed Stemp to advance to third before scoring off a groundout to third. Chapman advanced to second on the wild pitch and later scored off a single from senior third baseman Patrick McGrath.

The Cougars (1-3, 0-0) continued their comeback in the top of the ninth when junior right fielder Cameron Frost doubled down the left field line, scoring Chapman from first. Frost came home later in the ninth, scoring off a wild pitch to level the game at 8-8 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Sophomore left-handed relief pitcher Scotty Sunitsch (1-0) allowed just one hit in the bottom of the ninth to send the same to extra innings.

Washington State regained the lead in the top of the 10th through a solo home-run from redshirt sophomore catcher Stefan Van Horn, his second home run on the season.

Sophomore infielder Jack Strunc followed with a double to left field. Strunc scored two batters off a sacrifice fly from Chapman, giving the Cougars a 9-7 lead heading into the bottom of the 10th.

The Bobcats responded early in the 10th through junior utility man Granger Studdard, who doubled to left and later scored off a single by senior catcher/infielder Tanner Hill. But that was as close as Sunitsch would let Texas State get.

After loading the bases with one out, Sunitsch struck out the final two batters to seal Washington State’s first win under Head Coach Marty Lees.

The Cougars, who lost their opening series 1-3 against Texas State, will remain in the Lone Star state for the Al Ogletree Classic beginning on Thursday against UT Rio Grande Valley.

Reporting by Lars Hanson