Skjonsby’s late heroics lift Cougs to road win over Long Beach State
LONG BEACH, Cali. — After a late rally led by Ryan Skjonsby, the Washington State Cougars (5-6) defeated the Long Beach State Dirtbags 9-7 on Sunday. In a postgame interview with WSU Athletics, Skjonsby credited his team for finding a way to win.
“It was well earned from the whole team, and it's not just me. There's plenty of guys contributing, so it was just a long road trip, but glad to get the last one over with and headed home,” Skjonsby said.
According to a statement from WSU Athletics, freshman Mason Pirello recorded three hits, doubled and drove in three runs, Skjonsby had two hits and three RBI, Max Hartman scored three runs, Gavin Roy had a two-run single and Dustin Robinson tripled in a run.
Cougar starter Griffin Smith worked into the fifth inning, freshman Ryan Falke ended a bases-loaded fifth-inning threat with a flyout, Rylan Haider recorded the final two outs of the seventh and August Richie retired all six hitters he faced to earn the save. The Cougars scored four times in the fifth and built a 7-3 lead in the sixth but Long Beach State tied the game with three in the sixth and one in the seventh. WSU finished its 10-day road trip with a 4-4 record after splitting a four-game series at Big West Conference favorite Cal Poly last weekend and lost a pair of games to BYU in the ninth inning before beating Long Beach State 8-3 Friday and 9-7 Sunday.
“Team effort from a lot of new guys,” Skjonsby said. “It's (been) really fun (this season) honestly and it makes it easy just having so many guys bringing energy every day.”
The Cougars struck first as Max Hartman pulled a two-out single through the right side in the third inning, and Robinson jumped on the first pitch he saw, going the other way for an RBI-triple to left-centerfield and a 1-0 lead.
Pirello followed with a hard-hit RBI-single through the left side for a 2-0 advantage. Long Beach State answered with a pair of runs on three hits in their half of the third.
Pirello struck again in the fifth, driving an RBI-double deep to left-centerfield to score Hartman all the way from first. Long Beach native Ryan Skjonsby followed with an opposite-field RBI-single to left-centerfield, Dane Chavez singled to right field and Roy pulled a two-run single through the left side for a 6-2 Cougar lead. Pirello singled back up the middle to score Northrop in the sixth.
Long Beach State answered with three runs on four hits, a walk and error in the sixth inning and tied the game with a run in the seventh after a pair of walks, an error and wild pitch.
In the eighth, Northrop reached on a one-out error, Hartman pulled a single to right field and Robinson was a hit-by-a-pitch to load the bases for Skjonsby who lined a 2-0 pitch back up the middle, scoring two runs to break the 7-7 tie.
“I was pretty fired up,” Skjonsby said. “I was more happy that I was able to come through for the team. Everyone's been doing it all week, so I'm just glad I was able to help the team win.”
Richie retired the Dirtbags in the eighth and ninth innings to earn his first career save.
According to LBS Athletics, offensively, Trevor Goldenetz led the Dirtbags with two hits, including a triple, while Damon Valdez drove in two runs. Jake Evans scored twice as Long Beach State totaled eight hits and drew seven walks in the contest.
The Cougars travel to San Marcos, Texas, for a four game stretch against the Texas State Bobcats, starting Thursday, Mar. 5, at 4 p.m.
BOX SCORE:
WSU: 0-0-2-0-4-1-0-2-0: 9
LBS: 0-0-2-0-1-3-1-0-0: 7
A pair of Cougars baseball players celebrate a big play during a previous game this season.