Area roundup: California cruises past Washington State to open Pac-12 baseball series

Max Flower’s bases-clearing triple sparked a six-run second inning Friday and the California Golden Bears (20-11, 6-7 Pac-12) cruised past the host Washington State Cougars (9-18, 4-9) 13-6 to open a three-game baseball series in Pullman.

Darren Baker and Tanner Dodson had three hits apiece for Cal, which built a 10-1 lead with a four-run sixth, scoring twice on wild pitches.

Justin Harrer hit a solo homer and JJ Hancock drove in two runs for the Cougars.

Washington 2, Oregon 1: Lucas Knowles (2-1) pitched into the sixth and Willie MacIver capped a two-run first with an RBI single as the Huskies (16-14, 7-3 Pac-12) held off the Ducks (18-14, 5-8) at Husky Ballpark in Seattle.

Knowles allowed six hits and one earned run in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking none. Joe DeMers earned his first save with a hitless ninth.

Softball

North Idaho 5-20, Big Bend 4-2: The host Cardinals (26-2, 17-1 Northwest Athletic Conference) swept the Vikings (16-15, 7-10) to run their winning streak to 10. No details were reported.

Track and field

Washington State’s Tyler Johnson (173 feet, 11 inches) and Kaitlin Krouse (150-7) swept the discus events during the opening day of the 46th Pelluer Invitational at Eastern Washington University.

The host Eagles earned runner-up spots with Scott Miller (156-5) and Paris Flenoy (146-7).

The rest of the invitational takes place Saturday.