A Tough End to the Season
The final showdown of the Mountain West Conference Tournament unfolded in Mesa, Arizona, where the Cougars faced a determined San Diego State squad. From the opening inning the Aztecs struck first, plating two runs before Washington State could answer.
San Diego State’s early lead was anchored by a strong outing from Drew Talavs, who logged 5.2 scoreless innings and kept the Cougars at bay while the Aztecs added a third run in the third frame. The momentum shifted in the seventh when the Aztecs erupted for four runs, pulling away to a 9-2 final score.
Washington State’s offense showed flashes of promise. Matt Priest extended his hitting streak to 14 games with two solid hits, while Gavin Roy kept his on‑base streak alive at 42 games with a timely double in the sixth. Ryan Skjonsby and Kyler Northrop each drove in a run, but a series of strikeouts and flyouts prevented the Cougars from mounting a comeback.
Brock Blatter turned in a career‑high five innings for the Cougars, surrendering two earned runs and striking out one batter. Despite the effort, the team could not capitalize on several scoring opportunities, leaving the game out of reach.
The loss eliminates Washington State’s chance at the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Aztecs, by contrast, secure the championship and the associated postseason berth, underscoring the high stakes of the final match.