by Washington State Univ. athletics
PASCO -- Washington defeated Washington State 4-2 Tuesday in the inaugural Cougar Diamond Classic at Gesa Stadium.
It was the first nonconference battle between the Huskies (17-34) and Cougars (24-27) since 2004. The teams split four meetings this season after Washington State won two-of-three games in a Pacific-10 Conference series in Pullman, April 29-May 1.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the third when Collin Slaybaugh singled with one out, stole second, and scored on a double into the left-center field gap by Trace Tam Sing.
Washington tied the game with a controversial run in the fifth. Ty Afenir singled with two outs and scored when Reggie Jones singled to right field on a ball that Cougar right fielder Derek Jones and head coach Donnie Marbut vehemently argued was caught.
The Huskies tallied twice in the sixth against Washington State reliever Richie Ochoa (5-2) to take a 3-1 lead. The rally made a winner out of Jeff Brigham (4-1) after the Husky hurler blanked the Cougars in the fifth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Nate Blackham singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a one-out single by Jones. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Taylor Ard drove in his Pac-10 leading 51st run with a fielder's choice.
Washington capped the scoring with a run in the ninth inning against Brandon Williams. The Cougars conclude their season with a three-game series at USC beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
