Feb. 18, 2000

Box Score

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Washington State starting pitcher Todd Meldahl tossed a three-hit, complete game gem at the Arkansas Razorbacks, but a solo home run by Brian Kirby to leadoff the fifth inning spoiled the afternoon for the senior left-hander, giving the defending SEC champions a 1-0 victory in the first game of the 2000 Arlington Morning News Invitational at Allan Saxe Stadium.

Arkansas (4-1) starter Cliff Lee matched Meldahl pitch-for-pitch and picked up the win to improve his 2000 record to 2-0. Lee, who is a JC transfer from Meridian (Miss.) College, led the preseason No. 32 Razorbacks to their first shutout since 2/27/98 vs. Tulane.

Lee scattered four hits and struck out four in his third outing of the year. In 16 innings pitched in 2000, Lee has yet to allow a run to cross the plate. The 6-3, 190-pound lefty is a proven Major League prospect, having been drafted in the eighth round out of high school and 20th round in 1998.

Meldahl (1-2) pitched perhaps his finest game in a Cougar (3-5) uniform, striking out nine without issuing a walk. The complete game was his third in his career and first since the 1998 campaign. His stellar performance lowered his ERA from 3.07 to 2.38 and has dominated opposing hitters in with 23 strikeouts in 23.2 innings.

At the plate the Cougar bats were silenced by Lee recording hits only in the first, fourth and sixth innings. WSU's only potential rally came in the third inning when catcher Ryan Smith was stranded on second base. The Cougs did not advance a runner past second base. Freshman Stefan Bailie notched one of the Cougs four hits, extending his hitting streak to eight games.

The game-winning tally came in the fifth off a home run to left field by Kirby. The homer was first of the season for the 1998 freshman All-American and 22nd in his career. The home run was also the first Cougar hurlers' have allowed since the season opener against Lewis-Clark State (251 at-bats).

Lee was impressive down the stretch diminishing any hopes of a WSU comeback with three pefect innings in the seventh, eighth and ninth frames.

Despite the loss, WSU continues to play tough against nationally ranked opponents. Although not currently in the national polls, the Razorbacks advanced to the NCAA tournament in 1999 with a 42-23 record and finished the season with a ranking as high as 17th.

The Cougs will look to bounce back Saturday against another 1999 NCAA tournament participant, Nebraska. WSU is scheduled to start freshman right-hander Nick Kenyon (0-1, 6.75). First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. and will be aired on radio (1450 KCLX) and on the internet at www.wsucougars.com.

WSU  000  000  000 - 0  4  2
ARK  000  010  000 - 1  3  0
Todd Meldahl and Ryan Smith.
Cliff Lee and Greg Blum.
W - Lee (2-0), L - Meldahl (0-1), S - None, HR - Kirby (1).
T - 2:04,  A - 268.
WSU Hits - Stevenson, Bailie, Hattenburg, Gates.
Arkansas Hits - Welsh, Kirby, Washburn.
E - Gates 2 (4).
2B - Washburn, 3B - None.

Copy by Jeff R. Evans
WSU Sports Information