Cougs Top Division Leaders

Rob Ryan hit a pair of solo home runs and Randy Kaleikilo drove in five runs with a single and double to guide the visiting Cougars (22-32, 8-9) over the Pacific-10 Conference North-leading Huskies (25-23, 12-5) in Seattle, 11-6.

Ryan, out of Shadle Park High, connected in the first and eighth innings to run his season total to three - all against Washington. Kaleikilo stroked a two-run single in the third and cleared the bases with a triple in the fifth.

The Cougars, who have won five of their last seven, pounded UW ace Jeff Lynch (5-5) for 11 hits and 10 earned runs in 4-1/3 innings. Winner Todd Belitz (5-3) struck out nine in 7-1/3 innings.

As they have done so many times this year, the Cougars jumped to a first-inning lead. WSU tacked on another run in the second on Ole Vigeland’s double that scored Jon Fischer.

The Cougars stretched their lead in the third with Fischer’s RBI single and Kaleikilo’s two-run single.

With the exception of the third and sixth, Belitz and reliever Greg Muehlbauer kept the Huskies quiet.

Belitz worked into the eighth, but back-to-back, one-out singles forced coach Steve Farrington to summon his bullpen. Muehlbauer escaped trouble quickly, thanks to some help from first baseman Fischer.

Pinch-hitter Jim Na, the first batter Muehlbauer faced, lined to Fischer, who stepped on the bag for an unassisted double play. Muehlbauer then set down the Huskies in order in the ninth.

The teams continue their four-game series with a doubleheader today.

WSU 11, Washington 6

WSU 113 050 010 - 11 13 1

UW 002 004 000 - 6 10 1

Belitz, Muehlbauer (8) and Hairston; Lynch, Harris (5) and Shewey. W-Belitz (5-3). L-Lynch (5-5).

HITS: WSU Ryan 2, Horner, Fischer 2, Fowler 2, Kaleikilo 3, Hairston, Vigeland 2. UW - Magruder, Miller 2, Soules, Shewey, Bundy 2, Lentz, Whitemarsh, Porter. 2B-Vigeland 2, Fowler, Hairston. 3B-Kaleikilo. HR-Ryan 2 (3).

OSU 3, Portland State 2

Ryan McDonald’s two-run single in the top of the eighth gave the visiting Beavers (26-15, 9-8) a Pac-10 North win over the Vikings (13-31, 5-12).

Starters Eric Lovinger (8-2) of Oregon State and Paco Garcia of Portland State were locked in a 1-1 duel until consecutive singles by Brandon Hageman, Abino Vasquez and McDonald, who finished 3 for 4.

OSU 100 000 020 - 3 6 2

PSU 001 000 010 - 2 9 0

Lovinger, Figueras (8), Newell (9) and Schmidt; Garcia and Case, King (8). W-Lovinger (8-2). L-Garcia (3-6). S-Newell (3).

Walla Walla 9-4, CCS 5-8

Chad Ripke led off the game with a solo homer, and added a three-run triple in the fourth as the visiting Sasquatch beat the Warriors in the second game for an NWAACC doubleheader split.

Drew Harding doubled and had two RBIs to lead Walla Walla in the opener. Trevor Davis of CCS had a three-run homer in the sixth.

CCS 100 103 0 -5 5 0

WWCC 026 100 x -9 10 2

Hackman, Caponigro (3) and Zarfas; Doyle and Scherer. W-Doyle. L-Hackman (4-2).

HITS: CCS Ripke, Melsness 2, Davis, Best. WWCC Morgan 2, Winkleman, Beland, Ediss 2, Harding 2, Miller 2. 2B-Ripke, Morgan, Harding. HR-Davis (1), Ediss (1).

CCS 100 304 0 -8 8 0

WWCC 000 004 0 -4 9 4

Higgins, Click (7) and Zarfas; Grundy, Mattson (6), Copeland (7) and Hattemer. W-Higgins (4-1). L-Grundy.

HITS: CCS Ripke 3, Sage, Best, VandeMark, Sandnes 2. WWCC Morgan 3, Harding, Winkleman, Ediss 2, Beland, Miller. 2B-Sage, Harding, Winkleman, Ediss 2. 3B-Ripke. HR-Ripke (3).

Gonzaga 11, USF 6

The visiting Zags (19-24, 7-14) beat the Dons in a West Coast Conference game in San Francisco. No details were reported.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed from the Idaho edition.