Vikings Go Wild At WSU

Area colleges

Portland State leadoff batter Rusty Keith drove home five runs with a single, double and a home run as the Vikings held off Washington State to pick up a 16-9 win Friday in a Pac-10 North baseball game played at Bailey Field in Pullman.

Starter Scott Oyler (3-5) picked up the win for PSU (14-32, 2-9) striking out nine and allowing just five hits through six 2/3 innings. Adam Flohr and Brannon Cedergreen followed Oyler to the mound in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively.

Todd Meldahl (4-6) took the loss for the Cougars (24-22, 11-10), allowing 10 hits and 10 runs, all earned, before giving way to Les McTavish in the seventh. Meldahl struck out 10.

Nine home runs were belted out of WSU’s home park, including six by the Vikings and three from the Cougars.

Washington State’s Casey Kelley knocked his 23rd home run of the year over the left-centerfield fence, leading off the fourth inning. With three games remaining in the weekend series, Kelley has tied with New York Mets first baseman John Olerud, who clubbed 23 home runs for the Cougars in 1988.

Portland State polished off WSU with six runs in the ninth.

The Vikings began their barrage by scoring single runs in the first and second innings, adding five more in the fifth and three in the seventh.

CC Spokane rallied, but fell short in a 11-9 loss at Yakima. After racking up four consecutive hits after two were out in the top of the ninth, the Sasquatch (15-11 NWAACC) couldn’t bring home the tying run from second.

Gavin Hare of CCS drove in two runs in the seventh with his third homer of the year. Trek Davis went 3 for 5, all doubles to drive in three runs.

Spokane and YVC will play a twinbill today at Yakima.