Gonzaga University
Washington State
Cougars Jump On Gonzaga, 13-5, In Series Opener
3/31/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2000
SPOKANE, Wash. - Bookie Gates two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning opened the flood gates as Washington State (13-16) jumped all over Gonzaga (14-13), 13-5, in the series opener Friday afternoon at August / A.R.T. Stadium. The two teams will resume the series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Pullman with the final game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at August / A.R.T. Stadium.
The Cougars jumped on top in the opening inning capitalizing on two Steve Bennett (4-3) walks with Ray Hattenburg coming home on Bennett's first balk of the season. Gonzaga quickly answered in the bottom half of the first as Brent Church scored on a Jason Bay double to right center.
Bay would continue his hot hitting streak in the bottom of the third inning as he put Gonzaga up 3-1 with a towering two-run home run over the centerfield fence. Brent Church scored his second run of game on the home run after leading off the inning with his second triple of the year.
Washington State quickly answered Gonzaga in the top of the fourth inning as Zag killer Steve Curran crushed a three shot to right centerfield. Curran is hitting over .450 for his career against Gonzaga with 30-plus RBI's. The Zags answered in the bottom of the fourth as Eric Rodland beat out a double-play ball to score Jared Hertz from third to knot the score at 4-4. In the inning, Washington State starter Todd Meldahl gave way to Lanakila Niles. Niles (2-2) would pitch five innings of one run baseball out of the Cougars bullpen to earn the victory.
With the score tied in the top of the sixth inning, Gates gave WSU the lead for good with his first home run of the season to left field. Washington State would go on to add seven more runs off the Gonzaga bullpen in the final three innings to put the game out of reach. Gonzaga's final run in the game scored in the bottom of the ninth inning as a Sam Hess pop fly fell into right field for an RBI single.
Jason Bay finished the game for Gonzaga going 2-for-4 and raised his average on the season to .413. Bay also drove home three of the Bulldogs five runs on the afternoon. John Gebbers was the only other Zag to record two hits as he went 2-for-3 after coming into the game in the third inning for an injured Danny Evans.
The Cougars were led by Shawn Stevenson with a 3-for-6 afternoon while Steve Curran finished the day 2-for-4 with 4 RBI.
Saturday's game will be on the Radio on Spokane station KTRW AM 970. Also available on the Zags website. Pre-Game show starts at 12:50 p.m. with first-pitch set for 1:00 p.m.
