Grove Powers Cougars

College baseball

Jason Grove became the first Washington State player in 103 years of baseball to hit home runs in three consecutive at-bats in a 23-14 non-conference defeat of the New Mexico State Aggies on Sunday at Presley Askew Field in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Cougs came out of the gate hot, tagging NMSU starter Pat Leach (0-3) for 10 runs in the first inning. Ray Hattenburg sparked the hit parade with a two-run home run and Grove followed with a solo shot. Grove also homered later in the inning to become the first Cougar to accomplish that feat.

Grove also homered in the second inning as the Cougars put six more runs on the scoreboard.

Jeff Scherer tied a school record with six hits. The senior catcher/designated hitter ended his career day going 6for7 with three doubles, two runs scored, and two RBIs.

The Cougars (2-1) and Aggies (2-8) play the final game of the four-game at 10 a.m. today.

Gonzaga gets in win column

Matt Kearney scattered seven hits over six innings and Jason Bay and Jason Kennedy each drove in a run as the visiting Gonzaga Bulldogs earned their first win of the baseball season with a 2-1 victory over the Portland Pilots.

Kennedy staked the Bulldogs to a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI groundout that scored Jarrod Hertz.

Gonzaga (1-2) went ahead 2-0 in the top of the sixth on Bay’s RBI single that scored Bo Hart.

Portland (2-1) scored its run in the bottom of the eighth off Gonzaga reliever Forrest Higgins.

Tucker Urdahl got the final four outs for Gonzaga to pick up his first save of the season.

NIC edges Prairie

Nathan Holmes hit a three-run homer and Brett Whiteman had a game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to give North Idaho an 8-7 victory over Prairie Baseball Academy of Lethbridge, Alberta, at the Las Vegas Community College tournament.

The Cardinals, who are now 2-2 at the tourney, were no-hit by Southern Idaho earlier Sunday.