Cougars split with Kent State
Jayson Miller saved the day for the Washington State Cougars.
Miller scattered seven hits over 71/3 innings and struck out five to lead the Cougars to a 10-2 non-conference victory in the second game of a doubleheader Friday at Bailey-Brayton Field. Kent State won the opener 9-5.
Miller was locked in a pitchers’ duel with Kent State’s Kyle Hallock until the Cougars (8-2) broke from a scoreless tie with a four-run sixth inning to chase Hallock.
“It was very important for us to bounce back with a win against a really, really good Kent State team,” Cougars coach Donnie Marbut said.
Paul Gran and Jim Murphy both homered in that inning – for Murphy it was his fourth straight game with a long ball. Murphy drove in three runs while Gran drove in two.
Murphy’s two-run, fourth-inning homer was the offensive highlight of the first game.
Kent State is 3-6.
•Marcus McKimmy homered, doubled twice and drove in three runs to lead the Gonzaga Bulldogs (4-5) to an 8-4 non-conference victory over the Pacific Tigers (2-8) at Stockton, Calif.
McKimmy grounded out in the second inning, homered with one out in the fourth, grounded out in the sixth, doubled down the left field line with one out in the eighth and doubled down the left field line again in the ninth, plating two runs.
Evan Wells added two hits and two RBIs for Gonzaga.
Cody Martin pitched 21/3 effective innings in relief of Brandon Harmon to pick up the victory. He gave up one hit and struck out one.
Harmon scattered eight hits and struck out six with four walks in 62/3 innings.
Softball
Heather Coulter went the distance and struck out 10 to win the first game and then came on in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and slammed the door and give Community Colleges of Spokane a 5-3, 3-2 sweep of Paradise Valley Community College at Phoenix.
Coulter didn’t walk anyone in the first game.
Paradise Valley had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the seventh before Coulter came in and got the final two outs for her first save.
Heather Jackson drove in two runs in the first game. Kristine Newell homered in the nightcap.
Prep basketball
Coeur d’Alene’s Nate Clinton scored 13 points and earned most valuable player honors in the East’s 95-72 victory over the West at the Idaho District I All-Star game at Mullan.
Johnny Carlson (CdA) and Ethan Patzer (Kootenai) also scored 13 points apiece. Four other East players scored in double figures.
Nick Fromm (Lake City) scored 17 to lead the West.
•C.J. Schmidt (Post Falls) earned girls MVP honors with 19 points as her East squad defeated the West 54-47.
The East overcame a six-point halftime deficit by outscoring the West 33-20 in the second half.
Camille Robertson (Bonners Ferry) had 12 points to lead the West. Alissa Tenuto (Sandpoint) chipped in 10 points.
Arena football
The Spokane Shock added wide receiver Patrick Bugg to its roster.
Bugg was an All-American tight end his senior season at Eastern Kentucky in 2006. He collected 112 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 TDs in his career.