PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State Cougars evened up the three-game series with Arizona on Saturday afternoon, topping the Wildcats 9-2 in front of 1,550 fans at Bailey-Brayton Field.
 
The loss dropped Arizona to 22-8 on the season and 6-5 in Pac-12 play. Washington State improved to 15-13 and 2-6 in the league.
The Cougars took command of the game early, jumping out to a 7-0 lead through three innings. Arizona starter Randy Labaut lasted just 2 1/3 innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits, walking two and striking out a pair. The freshman left-hander suffered his first loss of the season, and suffered some bad luck with bloop hits and an error in the third inning.
 
Trailing 7-0 in the sixth, the Cats tried to fight back with a pair of runs. Jared Oliva doubled to deep left-center to score Cal Stevenson to make it 7-1. Mitchell Morimoto then laced a deep fly ball to centerfield that Washington State's Danny Sinatro made a leaping catch on at the wall. Oliva was able to score off a sacrifice fly, but that was it.
 
The Cougars then responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to stretch the lead back to seven. The Cats got men on in the seventh and eighth innings, but couldn't bring them around. In the ninth, Arizona loaded the bases with one out and Stevenson hit into a fielder's choice to score Haug and make it 9-3. But that was as close as the Cats would get.
 
Robby Medel pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings in relief to give the Wildcats a bright spot. Medel didn't allow any hits or walks and struck out two. The only base runner that reached was on a hit by pitch. Landon Faulkner also gave the Cats quality innings in relief, tossing 3 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs.
 
Offensively, JJ Matijevic had his third straight multiple-hit game, going 2 for 4 with his 20^th double, which leads the country. Matijevic also stole his sixth base of the season, and is perfect in all six of his attempts this season. Oliva went 1 for 4 with a run scored, and an RBI double. He's now tied with Matijevic for the team and conference lead in RBI with 38.
 
The Cats will now try to win the series Sunday at 1 p.m. Left-hander Rio Gomez will start for Arizona. Washington State has yet to announce a starter for the series finale. The game will conclude a stretch of nine of 12 conference games on the road to start the season for the Cats.