Washington State University Athletics
Cougars Drop Nonconference Contest to Gonzaga in Pasco
May 18, 2016 | Baseball
PASCO, Wash. – Washington State dropped a 5-2 nonconference contest to Gonzaga University in front of 2,912 fans at the Cougar Diamond Classic at Gesa Stadium in Pasco, Wash. Tuesday evening.
The Cougars (17-30) received RBI-doubles from Justin Harrer and Shane Matheny. Gonzaga improved to 31-15 after reliever Calvin LeBrun fired 4.2 no-hit innings to seal up the win. WSU relievers Kevin Calderhead, Layne Bruner and Caleb McAlister each fired two scoreless innings.
Gonzaga put four runs across in the second, loading the bases on three straight walks before a sacrifice fly, a groundout and two doubles gave Gonzaga a 4-0 lead.
The Cougars answered back with a two-spot in the third inning as Mason Cerrillo led off the inning with a walk and scored on Justin Harrer's double deep to the left centerfield gap. Two batters later, Matheny pulled a 1-1 pitch past a diving first baseman and down the right field line for an RBI-double to Harrer and cut the Gonzaga lead to 4-2.
Washington State threatened in the fifth after loading the bases but the Bulldogs ended the rally with a strikeout and flyout to preserve the two-run lead. Gonzaga reliever Calvin LeBrun made the lead stand after getting out of the jam in the fifth and didn't allow a hit and struck out seven in his 4.2 innings of work. The Bulldogs later added a run in the eighth and LeBrun sealed things up in the ninth to earn the win.
The Cougars will return home to host McNeese State for a four-game series beginning Thursday at 5 p.m.
