Nevada 12, Washington State 5
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Pullman, Wash. - Bailey-Brayton Field

WP: Dominic Desch (2-1)
LP: Trevor Stowe (1-1)
SV: Eric Valdez (2)

PULLMAN, Wash. - Nevada's offense exploded in the middle innings Sunday, as a six-run fifth put the Wolf Pack ahead for good in a series-clinching, 12-5 victory at Washington State.

The Pack (16-9, 6-3 MW) will not resume Mountain West play until April 10-12 against San José State at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park. In the interim, Nevada will play four non-conference games beginning tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Gonzaga.

Sunday's game featured four lead changes, all coming within the first five innings. Trailing 2-1 in the third, Nevada took a 4-2 lead with a three-run burst started by Junhyuk Kwon's sixth homer of the season. Jackson Waller followed with an RBI single then Jack Metcho's sacrifice fly capped the frame.

Washington State (11-15, 5-4 MW) got one back in the third, then took the lead in the fourth as Mason Pirello doubled in a run then came across on a wild pitch a few batters later. That chased Nevada starter Jordan Giacomini, who went 3.1 innings giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits with three strikeouts.

Dominic Desch came on and started another solid Pack bullpen effort in which he and Eric Valdez combined to shutout the Cougs over the final 5.1 innings.

Nevada took the lead for good in the fifth. Sean Yamaguchi tied it at 5-5 with a solo shot to lead off the frame, then, with the bases loaded and one out, Rominic Quiban drove a single off the wall in right-center, scoring Mikey Cruz Jr. and Jackson Waller to put Nevada up 7-5.

Jayce Dobie drove in Jack Metcho with a double, then Kwon added a two-run double down the line in right to make it 10-5.

Quiban punctuated a three-hit, four-RBI day with a two-run double in the sixth to give Nevada s even-run cushion at 12-5. Cruz Jr. led the Pack with four hits and reached base in five of his six plate appearances, while Kwon and Yamaguchi each homered in their respective three-hit games.

Desch got his second win of the season, going 1.2 innings before handing the ball off to Valdez who struck out seven and allowed just three hits over the final four scoreless innings to get the save.

Coug starter Luke Meyers lasted just four innings, giving up five runs on eight hits. Reliever Trevor Stowe took the loss, giving up three runs on two hits over just a third of an inning. Ollie Obenour went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and three walks.