Washington State dropped a 10-2 contest in the nonconference baseball series opener to McNeese State at Bailey-Brayton Field in Pullman on Thursday.
The Cougars dropped to 17-31 overall and McNeese State, out of Louisiana, improved to 27-22 after an impressive starting pitching performance from Kaleb Fontenot, who struck out six and surrendered three hits in seven shutout innings.
The Cowboys put the game out of reach with six runs in the fifth.
WSU scored its runs in the eighth as Stefan Van Horn doubled and scored on a single by Jack Strunc, who scored on a sacrifice fly.