Timely Pitching Helps Gonzaga Shut Down WSU

The Gonzaga bullpen allowed only one hit over four shutout innings to help lead the Bulldogs to a 5-3 victory over Washington State on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Posse Stadium in Pasco.

Mike Jackson, Sean Ingalls, Phil Banta, Scott Stencil and Matt Siwek combined for the stellar performance out of the bullpen to hold off several Cougars rallies late in the game. Gonzaga (2-0) starter Barry Matthews recorded the win for the Zags, throwing five strong innings while giving up two earned runs. Siwek picked up the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Starter Nick Kenyon took the loss for WSU (2-4), giving up four runs in three innings. Cougars reliever Matt O’Brien turned in his second strong outing of the year, scattering only two hits and no earned runs in five innings. Reggie Rivard added a shutout inning of relief.

Gonzaga second baseman Eric Rodland was the lone player on either team to record a multiple-hit game.

The Cougars threatened in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and no outs, but a interference call against a baserunner ended the threat. The call also got WSU coach Steve Farrington ejected after he argued.

Washington State threatened once more in the ninth, putting two men on base, but Siwek closed the door by striking out Wes Falkenborg to give the Zags the victory.

The Cougars and Bulldogs will conclude their three-game series today at 1 p.m. at Posse Stadium. WSU is scheduled to start Tyson Thompson (0-1) or Lanakila Niles (0-0), while the Zags will send JC transfer David Hixson (0-0) to the mound.

Track and field

Ian Waltz tossed the shot put an NCAA automatic qualifying distance of 63 feet, 2 inches, during competition of the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Meet at Lincoln, Nebraska.

Waltz, an All-American senior from Post Falls, placed third in the elite two-day competition at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on the University of Nebraska campus.

Nebraska’s Carl Myerscough won the shot with a throw of 64-8.

WSU’s Arend Watkins improved his NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 60-meter hurdles with a win at 7.75 seconds.

Alishia Booterbaugh of WSU placed second in the women’s 800-meter run with a time of 2:12.90, behind Nebraska’s Stella Klassen’s 2:12.08.

Booterbaugh ran a season-best 2:10.18 in the Friday prelims.

WSU’s Agneta Rosenblad placed sixth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.50. BYU’s Kirstin Bolm won with an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 8.13.

Cicely Clinkenbeard placed sixth for the Cougars in the triple jump with her season-best mark of 41-0-1/2. Beisha Spencer from LSU won the event with a meet record leap of 46-0.

The Cougars also entered a limited squad at the Bill Cosby Invitational at the Reno Livestock Event Center Saturday.

Brianna Willis was second in the women’s high jump with a personal-best of 5-7-3/4 and Lucita Zapata was third in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.27.

Former Washington State distance standout Bernard Lagat won the mile run at the elite Tyson Invitational Indoor Meet at Fayetteville, Ark.

Lagat, from Kenya, ran a 3:56.48 to edge Kevin Sullivan of Reebok (3:57.49).