March 2, 2006
Box Score
PULLMAN, Wash. -
Washington State University pounded out 14 hits and three Cougar pitchers combined on a seven-hit shutout as WSU began its 2006 home campaign with a 16-0 victory over Chicago State in the opening game of the Banana Belt Tournament Thursday evening at Bailey-Brayton Field.
With the victory the Cougars win their fifth-straight contest and improve to 11-2 on the season. It also marked the first Cougar shutout since May 7, 2005, when WSU defeated Sacramento State, 6-0. Chicago State falls to 1-2 overall.
After a scoreless three innings, WSU finally broke through in the fourth. With two outs, WSU sandwiched a walk between four hits to produce four runs. After a double and walk, Greg Lagreid lined a shot that two-hopped the wall after getting past leftfielder Shawn Pennington. An RBI single by Simi Reynolds and a run-scoring double by Travis Coulter capped the inning.
WSU extended its lead to 7-0 in the sixth as with two outs, Jay Milled cleared the bases with a double off the wall in left-center. It extended Miller's hitting streak to 16 games dating back to last season. The double ended the night for Chicago State starter Colin Marshall, who suffered the loss after five and 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits while striking out three.
Marshall's counterpart, freshman Jared Prince, made his first start of the season and went five strong innings, scattering five hits with five strikeouts to pick up the win. Matt Oye came on in the sixth and surrendered just two hits over his three innings of work. Ross Humes worked the ninth for WSU, getting two strikeouts.
In the seventh WSU capitalized on four Chicago State errors to put up eight more runs. Brian Yates had a two-run single, one of five hits in the inning, as WSU sent 13 men to the plate.
For the game Murphy, Reynolds, Garrett Kimbrel and Paul Gran each had two hits for WSU, while Reynolds scored three times and Jay Miller drove in three.
Andy Pazsko had two of Chicago State's seven hits on the evening. Playing just their third game of the season, Chicago State committed four errors while hitting seven WSU batters. In all, six Chicago State pitchers saw action in the game.
WSU continues play in the Banana Belt Tournament Friday when it faces Gonzaga at Lewiston, Idaho. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
---wsucougars.com--
