Scrappy Cougs Steal One from Minnesota
Baseball squad escapes with 6-5 victory.
March 5, 1999
Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - It was not the prettiest win for the 9-2 Washington
State baseball team, but with some gutsy performances from the pitching
staff and a single tally in the ninth inning, the Cougars escaped with a 6-5
non-conference win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the 15th Annual
Hormel Foods Baseball Classic in the Minneapolis Metrodome Friday.
The Golden Gophers (6-5) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after the first two
innings off Cougar pitching ace Wade Parrish (Othello, Wash.) After giving
up the five runs, two of which were unearned, Parrish (3-0) settled into a
groove after the second inning. Over the next three innings he did not
allow a run and at one point retired nine in a row.
Lanakila Niles (Pearl City, Hawai'i) was nothing short of spectacular in his
third appearance in a Cougar uniform. The crafty right-hander entered in
relief of Parrish in the sixth and gave up only one hit in two innings
before turning the ball over to Sean Donlin (Woodinville, Wash.) and closer
Reggie Rivard (Bonnyville, Alberta).
After giving up a lead-off single in the eighth Donlin handed over a 1-1
count to the hard-throwing Rivard. After a stolen base and a wild pitch,
the junior right-hander got a groundball out to second base and a fly ball
to centerfield to strand the go-ahead run 90-feet from homeplate.
With the game tied 5-5, Cougar Ray Hattenburg (Spokane, Wash.) drew a
lead-off walk. After a Steve Gleason (Spokane, Wash.) bunt single and a
Bookie Gates (Seattle, Wash.) infield single, Minnesota reliever Frank
Wagner (2-2) threw a bases loaded wild pitch with two outs in the top of the
ninth to score Hattenburg with the eventual game-winning run.
In the bottom of the ninth Rivard closed the door on the Gophers to secure
the come-from-behind victory and improving the Cougars season record to 9-2.
The 9-2 start is the best a Cougar team has faired to open a season since
the 1988 team started 9-1. With his two-inning relief appearance, Rivard
picked up his first win of the season to go with his two saves.
After quickly falling behind 5-0, WSU got back in the game in the sixth
pulling to within two runs, 5-3. Gates provided a run-scoring double and
Boyd Robertson (Richland, Wash.) added an RBI groundout in the three-run
sixth frame. Gates finished with a strong 3-for-5 game and played excellent
defense at third and second base. The freshman infielder is now hitting at
a .500 (9-for-18) clip for the season. Gleason was also 3-for-5 with a
double and two singles.
Minnesota was its own worst enemy tying a season-high with four errors which
led to three costly unearned runs. UM starting pitcher Kelly Werner (0-0)
was at the receiving end of a hard fought no-decision as he pitched well
giving up two earned runs and seven hits in five and one-third innings of
work. Wagner was saddled with the loss despite giving up only two hits and
one run in two innings. Third baseman Matt Scanlon was 3-for-5 to lead the
Gophers at the plate.
The Cougars will next play No. 13 Wichita State (10-4) who are fresh off an
8-1 defeat of the nation's No. 1 team in Florida State. Game time is
scheduled for 7 p.m. CST with Jamaal Gaines (0-2) getting the start for the
Cougars and Nate Robertson (2-0) getting the start for the Shockers.
