March 19, 2000

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Evan Hecker drilled a run-scoring single to score Shawn Stevenson with the go-ahead run in as the Washington State Cougar baseball team earned a come-from-behind win Sunday afternoon by scoring four runs in the eighth inning to overtake the host Cal State Northridge Matadors 6-3 at Matador Field.

The win secured the Cougs first series sweep of the year and improved their overall record to 11-13. WSU finished their seven-game spring break roadtrip with a 4-3 record. The Cougars also continued to dominate opposing teams on Sunday's, improving to 7-0 on that day of the week. The Matadors fell to 9-16 after enduring their second consecutive weekend sweep.

Zach Fisher (Port Orchard, Wash.) improved to 2-0 out of the bullpen with three innings of scoreless and hitless ball. Matt O'Brien finished the game for the Cougs to notch his second save of the year. O'Brien (Seattle, Wash.) was the winner in Saturday's game. Starter Reggie Rivard had arguably his best outing of the year with six strikeouts and allowed only three runs in 5.1 innings.

CSUN starter Mike Frick was saddled with the loss, falling to 2-3 on the year. Frick gave up six hits and six runs in his 7.1 innings.

The Matadors took the early 3-1 lead by scoring a run in each of the first three innings. Tim Coltey sparked the scoring with a one-out double to left field in the first and later came around to score on a single up the middle by Tim Arroyo. Northridge scored added another run in the second with a leadoff home run from Jason Watkins.

Designated hitter Steve Curran put the Cougs on the board with one swing of the bat in the in the top of the second. Curran, who put on a power display in batting practice, took Frick's first offering over the left field fence for his fifth homer of the year. The Cougs crawled back to within one run in the fifth with an unearned run and nearly tied the game in the sixth when Ray Hattenburg was robbed of a home run by CSUN left fielder Mike Bumstead.

After chipping away at CSUN's lead for the entire game, WSU pulled even in the top of the eighth. Justin Williams (Spokane, Wash.) led the inning off with a single to right field. After a balk and ground out to move Williams to third, senior Stevenson (Everett, Wash.) plated him with a sharp single through the left side of the infield.

The Cougs continued the rally with sophomore Hecker (Seattle, Wash.) coming up with a clutch single to center field to score Stevenson and give the Cougs a 4-3 lead. Not to be outdone, WSU added two more runs to cap the four-run inning when senior Jordan Nilsen (Bellevue, Wash.) slapped a single to left field to push the lead to 6-3.

Stevenson finished the game 2-for-5 with an RBI and Curran was 2-for-4.

The Cougars will return to action Tuesday with their first home game of the year at the newly renamed Bailey-Brayton Field. Tuesday's game will match WSU against local rival Lewis-Clark State with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.

WSU	    010	010	040	-	6	9	1
CSUN	    111	000	000	-	3	8	1

Reggie Rivard, Zach Fisher (6), Matt O'Brien (9), and Jon Baeder, Ryan Smith (8).
Mike Frick, Bobby Graves (8), Merrill Dunn (8), and Brandon Thompson.
W - Fisher (2-0),L - Frick (2-3), S - O'Brien (2), HR - Curran (5), Watkins (3).
T - 2:37, A - 215.

WSU Hits - Curran 2, Gates, Williams, Stevenson 2, Hecker, Nilsen, Bode.
CSUN Hits - Coltey, Arroyo 2, Watkins, Osuna, Stotts 2, McKenzie.
E - Fisher (2), Osuna (1).
2B - Gates (2), Coltey (6), Stotts (6), 3B - None.