Taylor Strikes Out 10, WSU Comeback Held off by #6 OSU

PULLMAN, Wash. (May 3, 2024) – Washington State loaded the bases and put the tying run on third base in the ninth inning but sixth-ranked Oregon State ended the comeback with a strikeout with bases loaded to hand WSU a 2-1 defeat in front of 1,485 fans at Bailey-Brayton Field Friday evening.
 
WSU (19-25, 7-15 Pac-12) saw starting pitcher Grant Taylor strike out ten for the second straight start while working six innings. Cougar second baseman Crew Parke recorded a pair of hits and Logan Johnstone came off the bench to tally two hits including an RBI-single in the ninth inning. WSU relievers Spencer Jones, Andrew Baughn and Kaden Wickersham combined to hold the Beavers without a hit the final three innings.
 
Oregon State improved to 34-11 overall and 13-8 in conference play behind an impressive start from Aiden May who struck out seven over 6.1 scoreless innings.
 
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Taylor struck out a pair of OSU hitters in a scoreless first inning but the Beavers hit a solo homer in the second and made it 2-0 with a bases-loaded walk in the third. WSU put two runners on in each of the first three innings but OSU ended the threats with strikeouts.
 
Taylor continued to fill up the strike zone and ended his evening with back-to-back scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth inning, and finished with ten strikeouts.
 
In the seventh, the Cougars received one-out singles to left field from Parke and Logan Johnstone but following a pitching change, OSU caught WSU trying to steal third and ended the threat with a strikeout.
 
In the ninth, Nate Swarts worked a two-out walk and pinch-hitter Ely Kennel was hit by a pitch to bring up Johnstone who pulled an 0-2 pitch into right field for an RBI-single. Kyle Russell was hit by a pitch to load the bases but OSU ended the comeback attempt with a strikeout, stranding the tying run on third.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Casen Taggart walked in the 4th inning to extend his on-base streak to 6 games
Joey Kramer singled off the pitcher in the 4th inning to extend his on-base streak to 5 games
Nate Swarts walked in the 9th inning to extend his on-base streak to 7 games
Taylor pushed his career strikeout total to 238, 6th-most in WSU history, 1 away from tying Matt Way for 5th-most all-time (239)
 
NEXT UP
The series continues Saturday at 6:05 p.m.