Cal Thumps WSU At Bailey Cougars Pitchers Worked Over As 11-1 Loss Ends Home Season

It was not what the Washington State Cougars envisioned for their home baseball finale.

In the last game of the year at Bailey Field, Cougars pitchers were tagged for 18 hits and gave up 11 walks in an 11-1 Pacific-10 Conference loss Monday afternoon to California.

While the Cougars wind up on the road this week - at Portland Thursday and a three-game Pac-10 series at Oregon State - the Bears wrapped up their season with a 27-31 record. They finished 11-13 in the Pac-10. The last-place Cougars fell to 21-27, 4-17 in league play.

The Bears scored all the runs they would need with a five-run second inning. Curtis Johnson’s two-run single to right field was a key hit.

Clint Hoover broke a season-long 0-for-17 slump against the Cougars with a towering home run in the fourth.

Tommy Callen capped a big weekend against WSU, going 3 for 4 Monday. He was 6 for 9 with seven RBIs during the weekend. At one point, Callen reached base safely in eight consecutive at-bats.

WSU’s run came in the fifth on Micah Banton’s first collegiate home run. Banton was starting only his second game as a Cougar and his first at Bailey Field.

Ray Hattenburg of Mead, who had a 6-for-11 weekend, has his batting average at .404. In six games against Cal this season, he went 12 for 24 with three home runs.

Gaines gains honor

Washington State senior Jamaal Gaines, who threw a complete game three-hitter at the Cal Bears on Saturday, was named Pacific-10 Conference pitcher of the week.

Gaines walked through graduation ceremonies early Saturday, earning a degree in general studies before striking out a career-high nine Golden Bears in the evening. Gaines is 3-4 with a 6.40 ERA.

“That day was one of the greatest in my life,” Gaines said. “To graduate in the morning and then to throw my best collegiate game later that night in my last game at Bailey Field is something I will never forget. It is a real honor to be named the player of the week.”

Gaines is the first Cougar to be honored as a player of the week this year.