Texas Tech University Athletics
Washingon State Opens Classic with 10-4 Victory
February 26, 2010 | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - Washington State took advantage of five Bethune-Cookman errors en route to an early 5-0 lead as the Cougars claimed a 10-4 victory Friday afternoon in the Brooks Wallace Memorial Classic at Dan Law Field.
The loss drops Bethune-Cookman to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in tournament play. Washington State (3-0) remains perfect on the year, while earning its first tournament win as the Cougars face host Texas Tech in the day's second game.
Bethune-Cookman starter Ali Simpson could never get into a rhythm from the beginning, allowing leadoff singles to Garry Kuykendall and Kyle Johnson. Catcher Peter O'Brien then committed the first of three first-inning errors by the Wildcats as his throw to catch Johnson stealing second went into centerfield, letting Kuykendall score from third and Johnson to advance another base. Simpson's next pitch went wild, scoring Johnson as the Cougars scored four runs in the opening inning.
On the other end, Washington State starter Spencer Jackson was efficient in only allowing two runs, with only one earned, in his five innings of work. The left-hander allowed a home run to O'Brien in the second inning and a RBI single to Juan Perez in the third, but was otherwise effective as all four of his hits allowed came in the two innings.
The Cougars put up another run in the fourth inning and two in the fifth, while holding the Wildcats scoreless all the way until the eighth inning even though the Wildcats out-hit the Cougars overall in the game with a 13-12 advantage.
Bethune-Cookman appeared to be building a potential comeback attempt against its 8-2 deficit in the eighth inning as Brandon Turner and Perez had one-hit singles before Matt Wright followed with a RBI single to center field. The comeback attempt ended with the next batter, however, as Ryan Durrence grounded into a double play to trump any hope of a rally.
Washington State added a little cushion to its lead in the ninth with a bases-loaded two-RBI single by pitch-hitter Michael Webber. Emmanuel Castro led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to right field for the Wildcats.
Jackson earned the win for the Cougars, improving to 1-0 on the season, while Simpson (0-1) dropped his first decision of the year.
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