Arizona too much for Washington State

Bill Rhinehart and T.J. Steele hit back-to-back home runs in Arizona’s three-run seventh inning as the 12th-ranked Wildcats topped Washington State 3-1 Friday in a Pac-10 Conference baseball game at Bailey-Brayton Field in Pullman.

Preston Guilmet (8-0) earned the win for Arizona after allowing seven hits in eight innings. Jason Stoffel came on in the ninth and retired the Cougars in order for his third save.

Wayne Daman Jr. took the loss for WSU after working a season-best eight innings, allowing three runs on four hits with five strikeouts.

With the loss, the Cougars fall to 17-18 on the season and 1-9 in conference play while Arizona improves to 31-7 overall and 9-1 in the Pac-10.

“Southern California scored three runs in the top of the sixth and cruised past host Washington 8-5 in a Pac-10 game at Husky Ballpark in Seattle.

Trojans freshman Brad Boxberger (3-3) earned the win after limiting the Huskies to one run on three hits in seven innings.

Washington entered the ninth trailing 8-1, but scored four runs to close the deficit.

Huskies starter Jorden Merry took the loss after giving up five runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

With the loss, the Huskies fall to 19-17 on the season and 5-5 in conference play while USC improves to 20-19 overall and 3-7 in the Pac-10.

Softball

Dena Tyson and Lauren Greer hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh as No. 11 Washington (28-12, 5-4) beat host California (26-24, 2-8) 4-2 in a Pac-10 game at Levine-Fricke Field in Berkeley, Calif.

Danielle Lawrie (17-7) earned the win after allowing four hits while striking out 13 in the complete game.

Men’s tennis

Gonzaga University lost its first match of the West Coast Conference Championships 4-0 to top-seeded and defending national champion Pepperdine (20-7) in Malibu, Calif.

The Bulldogs (11-14) will face Portland, which fell to Saint Mary’s, in the consolation semifinals today .

“No. 3 Linfield defeated No. 6 Whitworth 9-0 in the first round of the Northwest Conference Championships in Yakima.

Linfield’s Wes Gabrielson and Kyle Anderson defeated the Pirates’ Ed Anegon and Scott Bourne 8-5 in No. 1 doubles.

Women’s tennis

The Gonzaga fell to top-seeded and defending conference champion Pepperdine (17-9) 4-0 in the Bulldogs’ (4-16) first match of the West Coast Conference Championships in Malibu, Calif.

The Waves’ Eva Dickes beat GU’s Sydney Lederhouse 6-1, 6-2 in No. 1 singles.

“No. 4 Pacific Lutheran beat No. 5 Whitworth 7-2 in the first round of the Northwest Conference Championships in Yakima.

The Pirates will face Willamette, which fell to Whitman, today for fifth place.

Track and field

Eastern Washington’s Tyler Cathey qualified for the NCAA West Regional Championships with a javelin throw of 203 feet, 9 inches at the Oregon Invitational in Eugene.

Also, Curtis Suver qualified for the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championships after running a personal-best 14:24.63 in the 5,000.

For the women, Camille Moseley and Mattie Bridgmon both recorded personal bests in the 5,000.

Moseley ran a 17:04.17 to rank her third all-time in school history while Bridgmon’s time of 17:07.31 ranks her fourth.

“The Whitworth men sit in third place while the Pirates women are fifth after the first day of the Northwest Conference Championships at Baker Stadium in Tacoma.

Jeff Kintner won the discus at 143-8 to lead the Whitworth men.

Kristen Dormaier of the Pirates placed second in the heptathlon with 4,133 points for the women.

The two-day meet wraps up today.