March 18, 2000

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- Pinch runner Justin Williams scored from third base on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth inning to give the visiting Washington State Cougar baseball team a 3-2 win over the Cal State Northridge Matadors on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Matador Field.

The win pulled the Cougars to within three games of the .500 mark at 10-13 and are now 3-3 during their seven-game spring break roadtrip. Northridge fell to 9-15 on the year and are in jeopardy of being swept for the second consecutive weekend (Nevada last weekend).

The Cougars managed only seven hits against Matador pitching, but the WSU pitching staff was just as effective scattering just six CSUN hits. Six of the seven Cougar hits were provided by senior infielder Ray Hattenburg (3x4) and redshirt freshman Wes Falkenborg (3x3). Jordan Nilsen was the only other Cougar to manage a hit on the afternoon.

After three scoreless innings from CSUN starter Andy Davidson, the Cougs hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to forge to a 2-0 lead. Hattenburg (Spokane, Wash.) hit his third homer of the year to start the rally and Falkenborg (Redmond, Wash.) followed with his first career home run.

Northridge answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth with center fielder Rob Murphy providing a run-scoring single to score Adrian Mendoza. The Matadors pulled even in the seventh when second baseman Bobby Koba scored on wild pitch. Nilsen prevented the go-ahead run from crossing the plate when he made a spectacular diving catch with his back to home plate.

For the second consecutive game the Cougars were tied in the ninth and prevailed with the win. Hattenburg led off the ninth with his third hit of the day and was substituted by pinch runner Williams. A sacrifice bunt by Falkenborg moved Williams to second, an intentional walk to Nilsen and an error by CSUN shortstop J.T. Stotts loaded the bases and then Williams scored on a wild pitch by reliever Merrill Dunn.

Senior reliever Matt O'Brien (Seattle, Wash.) retired the Matador lineup in order in the ninth to pick up the win and improve his season record to a perfect 5-0. The lefty threw 2.1 perfect innings in relief of starter Tyson Thompson (Bothell, Wash.) and struck out one. Thompson was saddled with the hard luck no-decision as he had a stellar outing, allowing only six hits and striking out a career high nine batters.

Davidson (2-2) took the loss, but turned in his best outing of the year in only his second start of 2000. The left-hander struck out eight and allowed seven hits in eight-plus innings pitched.

"We did some good things today and has some key reserves step up in some big situations," said WSU head coach Steve Farrington. "Williams got a good jump on the wild pitch and that proved to be the deciding run. This was a good win for us today and now we are going to go out tomorrow and try to pick up the sweep."

The Cougars and Matadors will complete their three-game series Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for noon. Senior Reggie Rivard (0-2, 9.00) will square off against Mike Frick (2-2, 5.63).

WSU    000  200  001 -  3  7  0
CSUN   000  100  100 -  2  6  1
Tyson Thompson, Matt O'Brien (7), and Jon Baeder.
Andy Davidson, Merrill Dunn (9), and Jason Allec, Brandon Thompson (8).
W - O'Brien (5-0),L - Davidson (2-2), S - None, HR - Hattenburg (3), Falkenborg (1).
T - 2:20, A - 167.
WSU Hits - Falkenborg 3, Nilsen, Hattenburg 3.
CSUN Hits - Coltey, Koba 2, Murphy, Gorman, Stotts.
E - Stotts.
2B - Gorman (6), Koba (4), 3B - None.

Copy by Jeff R. Evans
WSU Sports Information