April 6, 2004

Final Stats

PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State's Kaeo Rubin hit a two-run homer and Grant Richardson had a solo home run Tuesday, but it wasn't enough as the Cougars dropped a non-conference baseball game 7-5 to Lewis-Clark State at Bailey-Brayton Field.

James Freeman (1-1), who came into the game in the seventh to pitch one inning, took the loss for WSU (19-9), giving up one run, which was earned, as LCSC broke a 5-5 tie with a single run in the seventh and eighth innings.

Ben Newton (2-1) came into the game in the sixth and pitched 1.1 innings to record the win for LCSC (28-5), allowing only one hit. Nick Seely earned his third save of the season by finishing the game for the Warriors, pitching the final 2.1 innings, without giving up any hits and striking out four batters.

Rubin drove home WSU's first two runs of the game in the third with his second home run of the season, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Jeff Miller, who singled, scored ahead of Rubin.

The Cougars scored three more runs in the sixth inning to earn a 5-5 tie. Grant Richardson, who was named Pacific-10 Player of the Week Tuesday, led off the inning with a solo home run for his sixth homer in the past five games and his ninth of the year. Jeremy Farrar then doubled up the middle and scored when Zach Franklin singled to center field one out later. Two walks later, Rubin hit a sacrifice fly to right field, driving home Franklin.

LCSC took the lead in the second, posting one run when Allen Balmer grounded out to second base to score Ryan Stevenson who led off the inning with a double.

The Warriors added two more runs in the third when Tyler Best doubled to center field to score Anthony Slagle, who reached base on a single. Best's double also drove home Jose Rodriguez, who reached base on an error.

Derek Bruce, who tripled to lead off the fourth inning, scored on Balmer's ground out, increasing LCSC's lead to 4-2. Best then led off the fifth with a solo home run to give the Warriors a 5-2 lead.

Brandon Morris scored the game winning run in the seventh inning with a solo home run to left field to lead off the inning. Morris drove home the insurance run in the eighth with a single to drive home Stevenson, who led off the inning with a single two batters earlier.

The Cougars will travel to Seattle Thursday for the first game of a three-game Pac-10 series against Washington at Husky Ball Park. The opening pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 6:30 p.m. Aaron MacKenzie will start on the mound for WSU.

Lewis-Clark State College	012 101 110 - 7 12  1
WSU			002 003 000 - 5 10 2
Brett Sommer, James Freeman (7), Brandon Hundt (8), Wayne Daman Jr. (8), Dane Renkert (9), Brett Beetham (9) and Zach Franklin.
Kyle Allen, Carlos Fisher (6), Ben Newton (6), Nick Seely (7) and Tyler Best.
W - Newton (2-1). L - Freeman, Jam (1-1). Save - Seely (3). HR - Best (7), Morris (5), Rubin (2), Richardson (9).
T - 3:11. A - 520.
LCSC Hits - Slagle 2, Fuller, Rodriguez, Best 2, Stevenson 2, Bruce, Balmer, Morris 2.
WSU Hits - Rubin 2, Jas. Freeman, Richardson 2, Farrar 2, McAngus, Franklin, Je. Miller.
E - Balmer (4), McAngus (7), Burress (1). 2B - Best (6), Stevenson (3), Farrar (1). 3B - Bruce (2).