GU splits opening games

The Gonzaga baseball team opened the 2013 season by splitting two games Friday at a tournament in Palm Springs, Calif.

The Bulldogs opened with a 6-2 loss to Utah Valley. Mitchell Gunsolus led Gonzaga with three hits and two walks.

The Bulldogs (1-1) won the nightcap 6-3 against UC Riverside. Gonzaga scored three runs in the first two innings to gain an early advantage.

Zach Abbruzza led the Bulldogs offensively with two hits and three RBIs. Tyler Olson picked up the win after throwing five scoreless innings.

• Western Carolina scored five runs in the fifth and beat Washington State 8-5 in a nonconference season-opener at Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C.

Yale Rosen hit a three-run home run in the eighth for the Cougars (0-1). Rosen finished 3 for 4 with four RBIs.

Aaron Attaway had two hits and two RBIs for Western Carolina (1-0).

Tanner Chleborad took the loss after giving up seven runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The three-game series continues today.

• Danny Jordan, Justin Liu and Erik Nikssarian drove in two runs apiece and Whitworth (2-2-1) toppled Lewis & Clark (0-4) 12-5 at the Swing Into Spring Classic at Gesa Stadium in Pasco.

Jason Renner picked up the win. Renner didn’t allow an earned run in six innings.

Track and field

Drew Jordan won the mile in a personal-best time to lead the Washington State men at the Idaho Collegiate II meet in Moscow.

Jordan finished in 4 minutes, 4.64 seconds. WSU’s Todd Wakefield was second in 4:05.13, a season-best.

Aric Walden won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.25 seconds and Brett Blanshan won the 200 meters in 21.85 seconds.

The Cougar women were led by Shaquana Logan and Bree Winfrey. Logan won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.72 seconds and Winfrey claimed the win in the 400 meters in 56.27 seconds.

Whitworth’s Carter Comito won the shot put with an effort of 59 feet, 3 ½ inches. The throw set a Whitworth indoor record and is the third-best distance in the NCAA this season.