Washington State University’s baseball squad captured its first Mountain West Conference championship on Saturday, routing San Diego State 14-4 in a decisive victory that guarantees the Cougars a place in the upcoming regional tournament in Eugene, Oregon.
A Historic Win for the Cougars
The team finished the weekend tournament with a 3-1 record, showcasing a balanced attack that blended timely hitting with clutch pitching. Key contributors included redshirt freshman Matt Priest, who opened the scoring with a double that brought in the first run, and junior Dustin Robinson, who drove in senior Max Hartman on a decisive fielder’s choice.
Early innings saw Jake Jackson of San Diego State launch a solo home run in the bottom of the first, but WSU answered quickly as true freshman Max Farrell tied the game at 2-2 with a double to straight-away center, setting the tone for a high-scoring affair.
Starting pitcher Griffin Smith encountered a walk in the fourth inning, prompting a brief rally that was halted by freshman right-hander Ryan Falke, whose wild pitch allowed a run to score before junior Scott Rienguette entered the game. Rienguette’s composure shone as he struck out two batters and escaped a bases-loaded jam without surrendering additional runs.
The Cougars then exploded for 11 runs over the final three innings, adding two in the fifth, one in the sixth and a seven-run seventh that invoked the mercy rule. Their offensive outburst, highlighted by contributions from Priest, Robinson and the rest of the lineup, sealed a historic first conference title for the program.
Celebrations erupted as the team recognized the milestone, marking the first Mountain West championship in WSU history and positioning the Cougars to chase a spot in the College World Series. They will open regional play against Oregon State at 12 p.m. on May 29 at PK Park in Eugene.