Area roundup: Gonzaga opens West Coast Conference baseball season with win at BYU

Ernie Yake’s two-run double to right field in the 11th inning Thursday lifted Gonzaga to a 4-2 win over BYU in a West Coast Conference baseball opener in Provo, Utah.

Yake, who finished with three RBIs, doubled off Blake Inouye (0-1) to drive in Carson Breshears and Daniel Fredrickson.

Winning pitcher Alek Jacob (2-2) worked three innings, allowing one hit while striking out six.

Jacob, protecting a 2-1 lead, entered in the ninth. The Cougars (12-4) were down to their final out when first baseman Nick Nyquist dropped a popup that allowed the tying run.

Nyquist’s RBI single in the ninth snapped a 1-all tie.

Starter Mason Wells of the Bulldogs (7-8) worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. He struck out four and walked one.

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson relieved Wells and threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

BYU’s Jackson Cluff hit a solo homer in the fourth.

The teams will continue the series Friday night and finish Saturday afternoon.

Hockey

The Spokane Chiefs announced the addition of Spokane Braves forward Bear Hughes to their roster as an affiliated player.

Hughes had a standout rookie season in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League with 41 goals and 25 assists during the regular season, and six goals and four assists in the playoffs.

Hughes was named KIJHL Rookie of the Year and Neil Murdoch Division Most Valuable Player.

The Chiefs will close out the Western Hockey League regular season by playing at Tri-City on Friday night and hosting the Americans on Saturday.

Spokane will open the WHL playoffs against the Portland Winterhawks. Portland (40-20-3-3, 86 points) holds a three-point edge over the Chiefs (38-21-2-5, 83) for second place in the U.S. Division. The Winterhawks will have home-ice advantage in the first round unless the third-place Chiefs surpass them this weekend.