Oregon was out-pitched and out-hit in a series-opening loss to Washington State.
Jace Stoffal allowed five runs on six hits and four walks and in just 3.1 innings in a 7-1 Ducks loss to the Cougars Friday afternoon at Bailey-Brayton Field in Pullman.
Washington State (14-3, 3-1 Pac-12) got on the board via back-to-back doubles and a two-run home run in the second. The Cougars added a paid of singles to end Stoffal’s day in the fourth, then plated three more runs via a wild pitch, sacrifice fly and RBI double off Logan Mercado.
Colby Shade led off the fifth with a single for the first hit for Oregon (9-7, 1-3) and later scored on a single by Carter Garate. But WSU’s Dakota Hawkins (2-2) allowed just the one run on four hits and a walk and struck out 10 over 5.1 innings.
Jacob McKeon added a solo home run in the seventh as Mercado allowed two runs on five hits and struck out five over 4.2 innings.
The teams will continue the series at 2 p.m. Saturday.
