EDINBURG, Texas – HBU jumped out to a quick first-inning lead, but was shut out the rest of the way as Washington State came back to claim a 3-2 victory over the Huskies Friday afternoon in the Al Ogletree Classic at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
Junior rightfielder
Brandon Brintz went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, while junior centerfielder
Joe Van Marter went 2-for-4 for the Huskies (3-3). Senior first baseman
Andrew Alvarez singled and drove in a run and has hit safely in all six games.
Junior righthander
JT Jakubik (0-1) took the loss for HBU, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with one strikeout and one walk in two innings. Senior lefthander
Matthew McCollough started, pitching three scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Junior lefty
Christian Thames allowed only one hit and struck out one over the final three innings.
Patrick McGrath went 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Cougars (2-4), while Cameron Frost went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
Ryan Walker (1-1) earned the victory for WSU, giving up one hit in five scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts. Scotty Sunitsch earned his first save of the season, allowing one hit and walking one. Starter Damon Jones surrendered two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks in two innings.
Espinosa led off the game with a single up the middle and went to second on a wild pitch. Brintz followed with an RBI single through the right side and took second on the throw home. Alvarez ripped a single to center to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth, Derek Chapman led off with a walk, Ty Johnson singled, then Shane Matheny laid down a sacrifice bunt, but reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Trek Stemp grounded into a double play to plate a run, then Jack Strunc grounded out to end the threat.
Mason Cerrillo led off the sixth with a pinch-hit single, the McGrath reached on an error that put runners on second and third with no outs. Fronst followed with a single and Chapman's squeeze bunt plated what would prove to be the game-winning run.
The Huskies return to action when they face host UT Rio Grande Valley Saturday at 7 p.m., then conclude the tournament against Washington State Sunday at Noon. The Legacy Sports Network broadcast with
Russ Reneau begins 15 minutes prior to the first pitch on HBUHuskies.com.
