May 17, 2011
Box Score 
PULLMAN, Wash. - Taylor Ard homered twice and Washington State defeated Portland 11-5 in the nightcap of a nonconference baseball doubleheader at Bailey-Brayton Field, Tuesday.
With the victory, the Cougars (22-25) split the doubleheader with the Pilots (18-29) after Portland won the opener 10-8.
"When you score as many runs as we did today, you would like to think you are going to sweep," Washington State Head Coach Donnie Marbut said. "However, we missed some opportunities in the first game. The positive is we played well enough to win the second game."
After Portland took a 2-0 lead, Washington State scored in the third, fourth and fifth innings to go on top 3-2. In the third, Trace Tam Sing led off with a double and scored on wild pitch with two outs. Ard opened the fourth with a home run over the left field wall. In the fifth, Kyle Johnson walked with one out against Zach Nice (0-2), moved to third on a single by Brett Jacobs, and scored on a fielder's choice.
The Pilots tied the game with a run in the sixth before the Cougars took control with six runs in their half of the frame. Ard gained the Pac-10 lead with a home run over the center field barrier to lead off the inning, his eighth round-tripper of the season and third in three games. Patrick Claussen followed with single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Adam Nelubowich for a 5-3 Washington State lead.
A walk to Tommy Richards and a fielder's choice off the bat of Tam Sing where Portland failed to record an out loaded the bases. Johnson beat out a ground ball for an infield hit to score one run and a second run came home during the play on a throwing error. Tam Sing was cut down trying to score all the way from first while Johnson moved to second. With two outs, Collin Slaybaugh singled to score Johnson, stole second, and scored on a single by Derek Jones.
In the seventh, the Pilots had a run in to cut their deficit to 9-4 and loaded the bases with one out against Washington State reliever Taylor Williams. Richie Ochoa (5-1) came on in relief and walked the first man he faced to force in another run before inducing an inning-ending double play.
The Cougars came back in the bottom of the seventh inning on back-to-back walks to Jacobs and Paul Clingan with the bases loaded.
Washington State closes its home schedule with a three-game series against Oregon beginning Friday at 5:30 p.m.
