WSU Snaps Its Losing Streak

Washington State catcher Jason Hairston drove home three runs with a triple and a home run as the Cougars downed visiting Oregon State 9-5 Friday in a Pacific-10 Conference North baseball game at Bailey Field in Pullman.

WSU (18-30) erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning to make a winner of Todd Belitz (4-3), who worked into the eighth inning before Dave Wheeler and then Jered Fowler finished up for the Cougars.

Starter Eric Lovinger (7-2) took the loss for OSU (24-12-1). Lovinger gave up all eight runs in the fourth before being replaced by Hal Ranstad. Tyler Swinburnson then finished up for OSU.

Trailing 3-0 in the fourth, the Cougars roughed up Lovinger for seven hits while scoring eight times. Hairston had a two-run triple and Mark Bowman drove home two runs with a single as WSU sent 12 batters to the plate. Fowler also had a run-scoring double, while Ole Vigeland and Randy Kaleikilo each singled home a run.

In the eighth, Hairston put the finishing touches on WSU’s win which snapped a four-game losing streak for the Cougars - ripping a line drive over the wall in left for his seventh homer of the year.

WSU 9, Oregon State 5

OSU 002 100 011 -5 10 0

WSU 000 800 10x -9 12 0

Lovinger, Ranstad (4), Swinburnson (7) and Schmidt. Belitz, Wheeler (8), Fowler (9) and Hairston. W-Belitz (4-3). L-Lovinger (7-2).

HITS: OSU Hageman 2, McDonald, Leone, Wakeland 2, Lipe, Bailie, Stranburg. WSU Ryan, Bowman, Hamik, Horner, Fischer, Fowler, Kaleikilo, Hairston 2, Solomon, Vigeland 2. 2B-Wakeland, Fowler, Horner, Vigeland. 3B-Hairston. HR-Hairston (7).

Gonzaga 17, Saint Mary’s 4

After pregame ceremonies officially christened Gonzaga University’s refurbished baseball facility August/A.R.T. Stadium, the Bulldogs battered three Saint Mary’s College pitchers for 20 hits in a West Coast Conference game halted after six innings by rain.

The Bulldogs (15-23, 3-14 WCC) sent 12 men to the plate and scored eight runs in the third inning, then erased any doubt about the outcome as 11 men went to bat in a five-run fifth.

Two-run doubles by Tory Wulf and Donnie Murrell highlighted the third inning as Gonzaga chased Gaels’ (11-26, 6-11) starter and loser Kevin Lowry. Murrell’s blow was the knockout punch. He was the 10th batter in the inning.

Saint Mary’s 201 010 -4 6 2

Gonzaga 108 251 -17 20 1

Lowry, Podesta (3), Newport (6) and Kermode. Alexander and Asan. W-Alexander (3-2). L-Lowry (1-5). HITS: SMC - Fuller, Waugh, Cohan, Hurlbut, Williams, Kermode. GU - Murrell 4, Knight, Pearsall 3, Wong 2, Hare 3, Uberuaga 3, Wulf 2, Asan, Canny. 2B-Williams, Murrell, Wulf. 3B-Wong. HR-Waugh (1), Uberuaga (4).

Portland St. 3, Washington 2 (10)

Graham Schetzle’s towering, bases-loaded drive to deep right-center field drove in the winning run in the 10th as the Vikings defeated the Pac-10 North front-running Huskies.

Schetzle’s hit was ruled a single but would have been at least a two-run double if the game had not ended.

Ryan Burkeen (2-2) struck out nine before giving way to reliever Jimmy Smith with two out in the 10th. Jeff Lynch (5-4) went nearly as long on the mound for Washington, pitching until there was one out in the 10th.

The victory boosted Portland State’s record to 5-8 in the conference. Washington dropped to 9-4.

CC Spokane 4, Blue Mountain 2

CCS’ Rudy Zafras went 3 for 5 to help the Sasquatch defeat the Timberwolves in an NWAACC game at Pendleton, Ore.

Pitcher Adam Flohr threw a complete game, scattered four hits, struck out six while walking just two batters.

Chad Ripke belted a solo homer to lead off the seventh, igniting a three-run inning for the Sasquatch.

CCS, which moved its overall record to 11-11 and 7-6 in the NWAACC East, entertains Wenatchee in a doubleheader today at Spokane Falls.

CCS 001 000 300 - 4 10 2

BMCC 000 200 000 - 2 4 1

Flohr and Zarfas; Pratt, Procter (7) and Garton. W - Flohr (4-2). L - Proctor.

HITS: CCS Ripke 2, Davis 2, Best, Zarfas 3, Coulson, Gillispie. BMCC Macomb, Clark, Garden, Klein. 2B-Garden. HR-Ripke (1), Clark.

, DataTimes