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Cougars Collect 16 Hits in Series-Clinching Win Over No. 8 Oregon

by wsucougars.com
May 2, 2021

PULLMAN, Wash. (May 2, 2021) – Washington State tallied 16 hits in an impressive 11-6 series-clinching win over No. 8 Oregon at Bailey-Brayton Field Sunday afternoon. The Cougars post their first series win over a Top-10 teams since taking two of three from No. 10 Oregon State in 2016.
 
WSU (21-17, 9-12 Pac-12 Conference) saw six players record multiple-hit games led by three-hit performances from Collin Montez and Jake Meyer. Montez and Tristan Peterson both homered, Kyle Manzardo had a two-run double and sophomore Grant Taylor earned the win in relief after striking out five in four innings.
 
The Cougars used a three-run third inning and a five-run fifth to take the series from Oregon (27-11, 11-7 Pac-12) for the first time since 2017.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
In the opening frame, Oregon used a double, a walk, a stolen base and a two-run single to left field for a 2-0 advantage. The Cougars answered with an RBI ground-rule double from Nate Swarts in the second inning before taking the lead in the third. Manzardo walked and one batter later, Montez hammered the first pitch he saw for a no-doubter two-run homer to right field. Following an Oregon error and a single from Meyer, Swarts drove in another run with an RBI-single through the right side for a 4-2 lead.
 
In the fourth, the Cougars erupted for five runs as Peterson hit an opposite-field two-run homers, two batters later Justin Van De Brake drove an RBI-double the other way down the right field line that saw an additional run score after a bobbled relay throw. Meyer singled back up the middle drive in a run and push the lead to 9-2.
 
Taylor was impressive out of the Cougar bullpen, entering the game with runners on the corners and nobody out in the third but kept the Ducks off the board with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout. Taylor allowed a pair of runs in the fifth but answered with a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
 
WSU put the game out of reach with a two-out two-run bloop double into centerfield to push the game to 11-4. Three Cougar pitchers combined to work the final three inning scoreless while striking out four and allowed just one hit during that span.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Kyle Manzardo extended his hitting streak to 9 games
Grant Taylor earned his 1st career win
In his 2nd start of the season, Nate Swarts had 2 hits and 2 RBI
 
NEXT UP
The Cougars continue their eight-game homestand with a Wednesday matchup against Seattle U.
 
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