Winger’s shot put flies to title at Big West Championships

Idaho sophomore Russ Winger won the men’s shot put title during the third day of the Big West Conference Track and Field Championships Friday in Irvine, Calif.

Winger’s throw of 62 feet, 10 inches defeated Zack Lloyd of Utah State by 7¾ inches.

Senior Tania Vander Meulen led the Vandal women, placing third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10 minutes, 38.36 seconds.

“The Eastern Washington men trail Montana State by three points for the Big Sky championship entering the final day in Flagstaff, Ariz. Branden Fuller led the Eagles with a second-place finish in the steeplechase (9:25.01). Finishing third and also earning All-Big Sky honors were Justin Drake in the long jump (23-11½) and David Paul in the discus (160-7). The women are currently in sixth place, led by third-place performances from Stephanie Ulmer in the javelin (152-9) and Sarah Hegna in the pole vault (12-5½.)

Baseball

Kiel Thibault and Jackson Brennan led a key ninth-inning rally, as Gonzaga defeated Saint Mary’s 10-9 in a West Coast Conference baseball game in Moraga, Calif. With two outs in the top of the ninth, Thibault hit an RBI double to right center field, scoring Darin Holcomb. Brennan came up next and ripped a two-run home run to right center, giving the Zags (27-20, 14-10 WCC) a 10-5 lead. The Gaels (18-28, 11-17) responded with a pair of two-run homers in the bottom half of the inning, but Gonzaga closer Brandon Harmon stranded the tying run on third base. With the victory and a San Diego loss to Loyola Marymount, the Zags are now a game ahead of both teams in the Coast Division with six games remaining.

“USC (29-15, 9-6) scored five runs in the fifth inning, en route to a 9-1 win over Washington State (20-30, 0-16) in Pac-10 play at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles. Trojan designated hitter Baron Frost went 2 for 3 with 5 RBIs.

“Third-ranked Oregon State (37-8, 15-4) beat Washington 7-0 in Seattle. The Huskies (27-19, 7-9) were held hitless until Taylor Johnson led off the sixth with a single.

Softball

Oregon’s Breanne Sabol broke up a no-hitter in the seventh inning with a three-run home run to lift the Ducks to the 3-0 victory over Washington. The Huskies stranded nine runners on base as they dip to 30-20 overall and 9-11 in the Pac-10. Oregon improves to 34-22 overall and 7-13 in the Pac-10.