College baseball: Washington State rolls in 16-2 win over Nevada

RENO, Nev. – Brody Barnum had three hits, including his first career home run, and Washington State routed Nevada 16-2 Thursday to open a three-game nonconference series.

Barnum drove a pitch from Dalton Gomez (0-1) out to left-center in the second inning to break a 1-1 tie, giving the Cougars (3-6) the lead for good.

WSU broke the game open with a four-run third capped by Jared Thurber’s two-run single.

The Cougars added four runs apiece in the sixth and seventh, turning it into a rout. Kodie Kolden capped the sixth with a two-run single. In the seventh, Reno native Garrett Gouldsmith and Kyle Manzardo each hit two-run homers.

Brandon White started for WSU, going four innings and surrendering two runs on five hits. Zane Mills (1-0) relieved White and worked 2 2/3 hitless innings to record the win.

Manzardo finished with four RBIs and three runs, and Gouldsmith and Kolden drove in three apiece. Leadoff man Dillon Plew also scored three runs and Andres Alvarez reached base five times.

The Cougars’ 16-run outburst was their highest run total since defeating San Jose State 16-3 in 2014.

Weston Hatten supplied one of the few bright spots for the Wolf Pack (6-2) with a solo shot in the fourth.

The teams return to the field Friday for the second game of the series.