Feb. 13, 2000
Box Score
PASCO, Wash. - Washington State (3-4) scored early and often Sunday afternoon as the Cougars bombed Gonzaga (2-1), 18-2, to avoid being swept by the Bulldogs in the three game series played at Posse Stadium in Pasco.
The Cougars wasted no time getting on the board scoring four runs in the opening frame and chasing Gonzaga starter David Hixson (0-1) from the game after just one-third of an inning. WSU batted around in the inning with Steve Curran delivering the big blow with a bases loaded double to rightfield which plated two Cougs. Wes Falkenborg then pushed home the other two Washington State runs with a single to right.
The Zags had chances early in the game to cut into the Washington State lead but could not capitalize. After stranding runners at second and third in the opening inning, the Bulldogs could only score one run in the top of the second inning despite loading the bases with only one out. Jeremy Doane tallied the Gonzaga RBI as he plated Brian Munhall. Stranding runners would turn out to be the weakness of the Gonzaga offense on Sunday as the Zags left 14 runners on base for the game.
After allowing Gonzaga to score a run in the top of the second, Washington State put the game away in the bottom of the second as the Cougs drove home seven runs. Evan Hecker started the inning off for WSU with a triple to left-centerfield that just alluded the glove of a diving Jason Bay. The Cougars would then put together several singles to load the bases for Jon Baeder who crushed the Zags comeback dreams with a grandslam to left field.
With an 11-1 advantage the Cougs once again batted around in the bottom of the third adding five more runs to their offensive total. Gonzaga pitcher Sean Lichter caught most of the brunt of the Cougars outburst as he surrendered 10 runs in his relief appearance.
Tyson Thompson(1-1) pitched five strong innings to pick up the win before giving way to four other Cougar relievers. Jon Baeder was the Cougs hitting star collecting five RBI on the afternoon.
Gonzaga was led by Jared Hertz who finished with a 3-for-4 afternoon. Freshman Davin Morita closed out the game with a strong performance that included four strike outs in two scoreless innings of work. Gonzaga will head to Moraga, CA, next weekend to take on Saint Mary's College in a non-West Coast Conference series.
