Feb. 4, 2000

Box Score| Notes

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Washington State starting pitcher Todd Meldahl allowed only two runs in seven-plus innings of work and struck out seven, leading the Cougars to a 5-3 upset win over the 19th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies Friday afternoon at the Spalding Fiesta Baseball Classic.

Meldahl (1-0) paced the Cougars to their first win of the 2000 season with a spectacular performance. The senior lefty from Butte, Mont., scattered seven hits in 7.2 innings of work and fell only three below his career best in strikeouts with seven. Meldahl threw 106 pitches in his first start of 2000. Sophomore lefty Sean Donlin came out of the bullpen to seal the victory against the nationally ranked Aggies, earning his second career save.

Aggie starter Grant Gregg (0-1) was saddled with the loss for A&M, allowing 10 hits and four runs in his 2000 debut. Gregg is a transfer from McClennan (Texas) CC and was a ninth round selection by the Minnesota Twins in the 1999 draft. UCLA transfer Brian Strelitz held the Cougs to three hits and one run in his 3.1 innings of relief work.

The Cougars started the scoring by jumping out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning. After a single by first baseman Stefan Bailie, senior Ray Hattenburg and sophomore Bookie Gates hit back-to-back triples to give the Cougs an early 2-0 lead. WSU added their third run of the frame when Gates scored on an error by Aggie second baseman Sean Heaney.

WSU extended its lead to 4-0 in the sixth off a pair of extra base hits. Senior catcher Ryan Smith led the inning off with a triple off the base of the left field wall and then scored on a double by newcomer Mike Knight. The Cougars fifth tally came in the seventh when senior Jordan Nilsen knocked home Hattenburg with a sharp single to center field.

Meldahl kept the Aggies bats in check through the first seven innings and at one stretch no-hit the nationally ranked team from the fifth through eighth innings. A&M pulled to within three runs in the eighth with a two-run rally. Third baseman Ty Garner drew a bases loaded walk to push home All-American Daylan Holt and chase Meldahl from the game.

After another bases loaded walk from reliever Donny Davis, Donlin entered the game and scorched the Aggies rally striking out pinch-hitter Steven Ponder leaving the bases loaded. The Aggies added a single run in the ninth off a run-scoring double from freshman Travis Wong, before Donlin could get Greg Porter to ground out to shortstop to give the Cougs the 5-3 win.

The Cougs were led by Hattenburg at the plate who ended the day 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. Redshirt freshman Bailie was also 3-for-5 and scored a run. Through two games Bailie is one the leading Cougar hitters with a .444 (4x9) batting average. Sophomore Bookie Gates added a 2-for-3 performance and designated hitter Mike Knight was 2-for-4 with a double in his first action as a Cougar.

The Cougars will continue play in the Spalding Fiesta Baseball Tournament with a 9:30 a.m. game Saturday against Kansas State. The Wildcats earned a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Oregon State Beavers earlier today. Lanakila Niles or Tyson Thompson is expected to get the start on the mound for WSU.

WSU          030  001  100- 5 13 0
Texas A&M    000  000  021- 3  8 1
Todd Meldahl, Donny Davis (8), Sean Donlin (8), and Ryan Smith.
Grant Gregg, Brian Strelitz (6), and Jason Gremminger.
W - Meldahl (1-0), L - Gregg (0-1), S - Donlin (1), HR - None.
T -2:48 ,  A - 449.
WSU Hits - Stevenson, Bailie 3, Hattenburg 3, Gates 2, Knight 2, Smith, Nilsen.
A&M Hits - Holt 2, Porter 2, Garner 2, Wong 2.
E - Heaney (1),  2B - Knight (1),  3B - Hattenburg (1), Gates (1), Smith (1).