RENO, Nev. – Six players recorded multiple-hit games for Washington State in a 16-2 win over Nevada in the series-opener Thursday afternoon.
 
The Cougars recorded 16 hits including three home runs and scored the most runs since beating San Jose State 16-3 in 2014. Four WSU (3-6) pitchers combined to hold Nevada (6-2) to two runs on six hits led by freshman righthander Zane Mills who earned his first career win after working 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, striking out two along the way. Cougar starter Brandon White allowed two runs and struck out two in four innings.
 
Brody Barnum led the charge offensively, recording a career-high three hits including his first career homer, Reno, Nev. native Garrett Gouldsmith hit a two-run homer and freshman Kyle Manzardo hit a towering two-run homer and finished with four RBI. Leadoff man Dillon Plew scored three times, Andres Alvarez reached base five times and Kodie Kolden drove in three. Sophomore Jared Thurber recorded two hits, scored twice and drove in two.
 
In the first, Plew led off the game with a walk and later scored on an RBI-groundout from Manzardo. The Wolf Pack answered a run in their half of the first with a double, a groundout and an infield single.
 
In the second, Barnum gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead with a solo homer to left-centerfield, the first of his career.
 
In the third, WSU used a pair of Nevada errors and three hits to push four runs across, highlighted by a two-run single to left-centerfield by Thurber for his first career hit and a 6-1 advantage.
 
In the fourth, Nevada got a run back with a solo homer. In the fifth, UNR chased starter Brandon White after a leadoff walk and Cougar reliever Zane Mills kept the lead at 6-2 with an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
 
The Cougars pulled away with a four-run sixth inning after a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, a bases-load walk and a two-run chopped single from Kolden over the third baseman for a 10-2 advantage. WSU blew things open with a four-run seventh with a pair of two-run homers from Gouldsmith and Manzardo.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Dillon Plew led off the game with a walk, has reached base in all 9 games in 2019
Barnum's solo HR in the 2^nd was his 1^st career home run
Garrett Gouldsmith singled in 2^nd to extend his hitting streak to 5 games
Andres Alvarez walked in the 1st to extend his on-base streak to 6 games
Brandon White started, went 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2K, no-decision
Davis Baillie worked 1.1 scoreless innings
Carson City, Nev. native Bryce Moyle worked a scoreless 9th
 
NEXT UP
The series continues Friday at 1 p.m.
 
TOP MOMENTS

BOOM! @brody_barnum goes big fly to left centerfield! Barnum's solo shot in the 2nd is his 1st career HR!

T2, 2-1 Cougs#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/8RJPpFhX5X
— Washington State Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 28, 2019

Congrats to @JaredThurber23 who records his 1st career hit, a 2-run single in a 4-run 3rd inning for the Cougs!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/EygClthukV
— Washington State Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 28, 2019

Zane Mills ends the Nevada 5th with a 6-4-3 double play!

We head to the 6th, 6-2 Cougs#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/KziTygsX7r
— Washington State Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 28, 2019

BOOM! Welcome home @g_gouldsmith who goes big fly down the LF line for a 2-run shot!

T7, 12-2 Cougs#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/3oJZOn3pmt
— Washington State Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 28, 2019

BOOM! ANOTHER ONE!  @KyleTMazardo goes oppo taco for a longggggg 2-run shot in the 7th, his 2nd HR this season!

T7, 14-2 Cougs#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/EipLZGmxDM
— Washington State Baseball (@Cougbaseball) February 28, 2019