Feb. 11, 2005

Box Score

HAMMOND, La. - Washington State's James Freeman struck out 13 batters in seven strong innings and Jay Miller drove home a pair of runs as the Cougars edged Southeastern Louisiana 2-1 Friday in the Holiday Inn Classic at Alumni Field.

Dane Renkert pitched the final two innings, recording three strikeouts to earn his first save for Washington State (2-2). Freeman (1-0) allowed just five hits and one run, which was earned. Southeastern Louisiana's (0-1) starter Risley St. Germain recorded the loss in the Lions' season opener, allowing four hits, two runs, both earned, while striking out five batters over 4.2 innings of work.

"Today was an absolute dominant pitching performance by Jimmy (James) Freeman." WSU Head Coach Donnie Marbut said. "His was as good a performance as I've seen by any pitcher and then Renkert came in and punched out three strikes. All the credit goes to Freeman, Renkert and coach Ryan Brust."

"They were great," WSU pitching coach Brust said. "Jimmy played great and Dane came in and was good out of the pen for us."

Miller, who finished 2-for-4, gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead in the first inning when he singled up the middle to score Kaeo Rubin, who was hit by a pitch leading off the inning.

Miller plated Rubin again in the fifth inning with a single to right center. Rubin led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring the winning run.

The Lions loaded the bases in the seventh and cut the lead to 2-1 when Tony Suarez singled through the left side, scoring Randy Roth. But Miller threw out Trent Hebert at the plate for the second out before Freeman fanned Steve Clevenger to end the inning.

Renkert relieved Freeman to open the eighth inning and allowed a two-out single to Kyle Ginn, but he struck out Roth to end the inning and then retired the Lions in order in the ninth inning to preserve the win.

The teams will return to action Saturday with a doubleheader, beginning at 9 a.m. PST. The final game of the series was moved up to Saturday due a forecast of rain on Sunday.

WSU			100 010 000 - 2 4 1
Southeastern Louisiana	000 000 100 - 1 6 1
James Freeman, Dane Renkert (8) and Brady Everett
Risley St. Germain, Jeremy Mizell (5), Brandon Carlton (6), Bernard Robert (8) and Randy Roth.
W - Freeman (1-0). L - St. Germain (0-1). Save - Renkert (1). HR - None.
T - 2:50. A - 323.
WSU Hits - Jay Miller 2, Rubin, Jas. Freeman.
Southeastern Louisiana Hits - Suarez 2, Ginn, Roth, Hebert, Waltman.
E - Jeff Miller, Waltman. 2B - None. 3B - None.