Pistorese delivers seven solid innings in WSU win - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Pistorese delivers seven solid innings in WSU win

Courtesy of WSU athletics

SAN ANTONIO – Washington State began a seven-game road trip with a 6-3 nonconference baseball victory over UTSA, Friday at Roadrunner Field.

The Cougars (9-3), who won for the ninth time in their last 10 games, received seven-strong innings from Joe Pistorese (1-1). The southpaw struck out six and kept the Roadrunners (9-5) off the scoreboard until the seventh inning.

"Joe was solid once again," Cougar Head Coach Donnie Marbut said. "We made some mistakes on the bases early that didn't help him, but he shut them down until our offense got going."

In the third, Trek Stemp singled with one out off UTSA starter Mitchell Kraft (1-2). Stemp moved to third on a passed ball and an error before scoring the game's first run courtesy of a Collin Slaybaugh double.

The Cougars added to their lead in the fourth. Jason Monda led off with a double and took third on a single by Brett Jacobs. Adam Nelubowich followed with a sacrifice fly to score Monda. Two batters later, Trace Tam Sing belted his first-career home run to give Washington State a 4-0 advantage. In the fifth, Nick Tanielu doubled with one out and scored on a two-out error to extend the Cougars' lead to 5-0.

After the Roadrunners closed within 5-3 in the seventh, Kellen Camus pitched the eighth for the Cougars. In the ninth, P.J. Jones singled, moved to second on a ground out and scored on a single by Stemp. J.D. Leckenby closed out UTSA in the ninth for his fifth save in five opportunities.

The four-game series continues, Saturday with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Central/noon Pacific.