Cougars cruise by Pilots

PASCO – Washington State’s Wayne Daman Jr. took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and the Cougars cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Portland Pilots on Sunday at Dust Devil Stadium.

Daman gave up a leadoff double to Portland’s Justin Ehlers. Cougars’ center fielder Jason Freeman made a long run and dove at the short line drive, but the ball landed in front of him and skipped past allowing Ehlers to scoot into second base. Daman fanned seven and walked two in picking up his first victory of the season.

Portland starter Ari Ronick (1-1) was saddled with the loss. He allowed five runs and seven hits in seven innings of work.

Zach McAngus staked WSU (5-5) to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly that plated Kaeo Rubin, who opened the inning with a single.

McAngus added a two-run double to cap a three-run third inning.

Brady Everett drove in WSU’s final two runs with a single in the third and a double in the fifth.

Portland (3-4) scored its only run of the game in the ninth inning on a double-play groundout.