Feb. 20, 2000

Box Score

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Freshman Stefan Bailie was 3-for-5 at the plate with a run-scoring double as the Washington State Cougar baseball team snapped a two-game losing streak Sunday afternoon by defeating tournament host Texas-Arlington 7-3 in the final game of the 2000 Arlington Morning News Invitational at Allan Saxe Stadium.

WSU (4-6) relief pitcher Zach Fisher (1-0) did not allow an earned run in 5.2 innings out of the bullpen and scattered five hits in his appearance to pick up his first win of the year. Fisher, a sophomore right-hander who hails from Port Orchard, Wash., struck out four and walked only one in his third appearance of 2000.

Texas-Arlington (8-5) starter Pierce Loveless was saddled with the loss giving up five runs and seven hits in his 5.2 innings of work.

The Mavericks threatened in the first when WSU starter Tyson Thompson loaded the bases on three walks. The hard-throwing right-hander battled back though, stranding the sacks full after striking out center fielder Daniel Ortmeier to end the potential UTA rally. Thompson struggled with control problems in his outing, walking six and throwing three wild pitches in 3.1 innings.

The Cougs broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning with two runs. Senior catcher Ryan Smith led the inning off with a double and later scored on an error by UTA shortstop Joe Kennedy. With two outs, Bailie plated Jordan Nilsen on a double to right field.

Texas-Arlington battled back scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings to tie the game at two. With runners on first and third and only one out in the fourth, the Mavericks looked as if they were going to add more, but Fisher entered out of the bullpen and quickly retired the side with two quick strikeouts.

The Cougars forged to a 5-2 lead in the top of the sixth. Leadoff singles by Bailie and senior designated hitter Steve Curran fueled the three-run rally. Sophomore second baseman Bookie Gates knocked home the first run with a sharp single to left field to score Bailie. After pinch runner Mike Knight scored on a balk, Nilsen capped the WSU rally with a double to score Gates.

WSU added two more insurance runs in the eighth to extend its lead to 7-3. Shortstop Shawn Stevenson scored a run with a single and sophomore Evan Hecker plated the Cougs final score with a sacrifice fly to left field.

The win improved WSU's record to 4-6 and gave the Cougars their first win of the UTA hosted tournament. With his three-hit game, Bailie extended his hitting streak to 10 games and has recorded a hit in every game he has appeared in a Cougar uniform. The redshirt freshman first baseman is also the Cougs leading hitter with a .395 (15x38) batting average.

WSU will conclude its four-game roadtrip in Texas tomorrow with a single, non-tournament game against Texas-Arlington. Lanakila Niles (0-0, 4.50) or Reggie Rivard (0-1, 13.50) is the projected starter for Washington State.

WSU               002  003  020 - 7  10  1
Texas-Arlington   001  100  010 - 3   8  2
Tyson Thompson, Zach Fisher (4), and Ryan Smith.
Pierce Loveless, Aaron Pullin (6), Clint Faught (9) and John-Paul Davis.
W - Fisher (1-0), L - Loveless (1-1), S - None, HR - None.
T -2:58,  A - 621.
WSU Hits - Stevenson, Bailie 3, Curran, Gates, Smith, Williams, Nilsen 2.
UTA Hits - Kennedy, Ness, Davis 2, Crosby, Ferrans, Bryan 2.
E -Hattenburg (5), Kennedy 2.
2B - Nilsen (4), Smith (1), Bailie (2), Ness (1).

Copy By Jeff R. Evans
WSU Sports Information