Cougs recover from deficit in close win over ‘Zags
HERALD SPORTS STAFF | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
WSU pulled off a hard-earned comeback in the tenth inning against Gonzaga Tuesday.
COURTESY PHOTO/WSU ATHLETICS
SPOKANE – On Tuesday, April 1, Washington State University (10-18) baseball made a comeback late in the game after being down 5-0 against Gonzaga (12-14) to win 7-6. The comeback was topped off with a two-run single executed by Ricco Longo in the 10th inning, according to a statement from WSU Athletics.
Early on, after seven hits by Gonzaga, WSU quickly fell into a 5-0 deficit. However, after a pair of runs in the third inning, hope was still alive. Kyler Northup was able to put together a two-out double against the wall in left field. He also scored on a two-out opposite-field RBI-single to the left field by Max Hartman. Ollie Obenour executed a double to left field, allowing Hartman to score, making it 5-2.
It would become a two-run game with a no-doubt solo homer to left field with two outs in the fourth by Gavin Roy. The Cougars put runners on first and second with one out in the fifth, but Gonzaga ended the threat with a 4-6-3 ground ball double play.
In the sixth inning, it became a one-run game after Ryan Skjonsby led off the inning with a double to right-centerfield and two batters later, after fouling a pitch off his hand, Roy beat out an infield-single to shortstop to score Skojonsby.
In the eighth inning, Logan Johnstone beat out an infield single to third base to start the inning, and a bunt to second led to a score on Will Cresswell's RBI-single up the middle to tie the game. Gonzaga put runners on the corners with two outs in the eighth and Cougars called up Friday starter Griffin Smith, who answered with a ground ball comebacker.
In the ninth, GU doubled to left-centerfield with one out, but Rylan Haider responded with a strikeout and ground ball comebacker.
In the 10th, Skjonsby and Johnstone were both hit by the pitch to start the inning and both moved up a base after a Cresswell groundout. Roy was intentionally walked to load the bases before Longo pulled a 2-1 pitch over a leaping Gonzaga third baseman and into left field to score two. GU led off the tenth with a solo homer to right field, but Haider retired the next hitters on groundouts and worked around a two-single to seal up the 7-6 win.
ARTICLES BY HERALD SPORTS STAFF
Local athletes play in Columbia Basin series senior all-star baseball game
MOSES LAKE — The Sports Council and All-State Baseball announced in a press release that they are hosting the sixth annual Columbia Basin Series Senior All-Star Baseball Game presented by Central Industrial Sales. This annual showcase brings together standout seniors and celebrates the accomplishments of student-athletes from throughout the region. The game will be between some of the top graduating baseball players from across the Yakima Valley and Tri-Cities regions. The Yakima Valley team will consist of Moses Lake’s Noah Hernandez and Othello’s RJay Garza, Quade Gonzalez IV and Aiden Garza while being coached by Othello’s Head Coach Sonny Garza.
Wildcats qualify 11 for Outdoor Championships
INDIANAPOLIS – Central Washington University Track and Field put out a statement Tuesday to announce that 11 student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships running from Thursday, May 21 through Saturday, May 23 in Welch Stadium at Emporia State University. Eight female track and field student-athletes qualified. Layla Fields, Zoe Gonzales, and Ashlyn Nielsen all qualified as part of the 4x100m relay team while Donna Marie Harris and Carley Huber qualified as part of the 4x400m relay team. Julie Castillejo will be a relay alternative due to quick turnarounds from some individual events. Ellie DeGroot qualified as a member of the 4x400m relay team as well as for the 400m hurdles. Maliyah Gordon was a qualifier in the shot put. Elise Hopper will represent the crimson and black in four events: the 4x100m relay, the 4x400m relay, the 400m dash, and the 200m dash.
Wildcats athletics reveals 2026 Hall of Fame inductees
ELLENSBURG — On Monday, Central Washington athletics announced in a statement the names for the 2026 athletic Hall of Fame class. Jean and Joe Adams (Spirit of Central), Catie Fry (Volleyball), Zak Hill (Football), and Dr. Richard Roux (Meritorious Service).