March 17, 2000
Box Score
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- Senior shortstop Shawn Stevenson hit a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning and freshman Stefan Bailie was 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs as the visiting Washington State Cougars defeated the Cal State Northridge Matadors 6-2 Friday afternoon in a non-conference game at Matador Field.
The Cougs improved to 9-13 with the win and are now 2-3 during their seven-game spring break roadtrip. The Matadors fell to 9-14 with the loss, snapping a two-game winning streak.
The Cougars jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the first when Stevenson (Everett, Wash.) led the inning off with a single and later came around to score on a Steve Curran (Bellevue, Wash.) sacrifice fly. The Cougar run in the first was the only score WSU could muster up through the first seven innings.
CSUN starter Kameron Loe lasted only 2.1 innings, giving up only two hits and one run, and was relieved by left-hander Ryan McDermott. McDermott (1-3) was stellar out of the bullpen, not allowing a run until his sixth inning of pitching, but was saddled with the loss when WSU tallied five runs over the last two innings.
The Matadors took the lead in the middle innings, touching WSU starter Todd Meldahl (Butte, Mont.) for a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings. J.T. Stotts plated CSUN's first run with a two-out single up the middle. Designated hitter Aaron McKenzie pulled the Matadors ahead with a solo home run in the sixth frame.
Meldahl (1-3) provided another excellent outing, allowing only one earned run in 6.1 innings while striking out six.
The Cougars pulled even in the top of the eighth and nearly took the lead. Bailie (Mesa, Wash.) connected on his first of two homers, his fourth of the year, with a line drive over the center field fence to knot the game at 2-2. After a Ray Hattenburg (Spokane, Wash.) single up the middle, Jordan Nilsen (Bellevue, Wash.) doubled off the left field fence. Hattenburg was thrown out at the plate on a close play as he ran over the catcher.
WSU took the lead for good in the top of the ninth as Stevenson provided the heroics with a two out, two-run home run well over the left field fence. The home run was Stevenson's 13th in his career and first since March 27, 1999 vs. USC.
"I was just looking for a ball to drive and score a run to get us the lead, but things worked out pretty good with the home run," Stevenson said. "I haven't hit many home runs since I was a sophomore and now I am more of a line drive hitter. If you hit the ball hard some are going to get over the fence, and this one fortunately won a game for us."
After a walk to Evan Hecker (Seattle, Wash.), Bailie added his second homer of the day with a monstrous shot well over the left field fence and the surrounding trees to give the Cougs the comfortable 6-2 lead.
"I've been working real hard with Coach Johnson lately to relax at the plate and let my swing do the work," Bailie said. "I just relaxed and put the ball in play. This is a big win for us and gets the weekend off to a good start."
Sophomore Lanakila Niles (Pearl City, Hawai'i) was dominating in relief of Meldahl and picked up the win for the Cougs with 2.2 innings of shutout ball. The Hawaiian native allowed only one baserunner in his outing and improved his season record to 1-2.
Stevenson finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Sophomore Bookie Gates (Seattle, Wash.) and Senior Ryan Smith (Port Orchard, Wash.) also tabbed two-hit games with each going 2-for-4.
The Cougars and Matadors will continue their three game series Saturday with a 1 p.m. game at Matador Field. Sophomore right-hander Tyson Thompson (1-3, 4.40) will start for the Cougs against CSUN left-hander Andy Davidson.
WSU 100 000 014 - 6 11 1
CSUN 000 011 000 - 2 6 0
Todd Meldahl, Lanakila Niles (7), and Ryan Smith.
Kameron Loe, Ryan McDermott (3), Bill Murphy (9), and Jason Allec.
W - Niles (1-2),L - McKenzie (1-3), S - None, HR - McKenzie (2), Bailie 2 (5), Stevenson (1).
T - 2:26, A - 143.
WSU Hits - Stevenson 2, Gates 2, Smith 2, Falkenborg, Bailie 2, Hattenburg, Nilsen.
CSUN Hits - McKenzie 2, Arroyo 2, Watkins, Stotts.
E - Stevenson (5), 2B - Smith (3), Nilsen (5), Gates (1).
c-o-u-g-s
Copy by Jeff R. Evans
WSU Sports Information
