Welch and Warriors Slam Door on Cougars, 13-8

PULLMAN,WA--Sixth-ranked Lewis-Clark State snapped its two game losing streak to Washington State University with a 13-8 win at Bailey-Brayton Field, Sunday afternoon.

Six Lewis-Clark State (35-15) batters collected two hits, led by Nick Bullen, whose two base hits drove in four runs. Micah Furtado hit his third home run, in as many games, with a grand slam in the second inning, his tenth homer of the season. It was the Warriors’ seventh grand slam of the year. Brendan Ryan and Furtado also extended their hitting streaks to 14 and nine games, respectively. Ryan’s streak is tied for second longest with Furtado’s earlier string this season. Tory Haven holds the longest streak of the 2002 season with 17 games.

Kevin Welch (4-1) picked up the win, hurling five innings of four-hit ball, surrendering an unearned run. Andy Torres pitched four innings, but was touched for ten hits and seven earned runs.

Tyson Boston went 2-for-5 at the plate for Washington State (19-28) driving in a team-best three runs and scoring twice. His two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth gave the Cougars a short-lived 7-6 lead. Evan Hecker and Bookie Gates both collected three hits apiece as the first three hitters in WSU’s line up went a collective 8-for-14 with four runs scored and three RBI.

Brandon Hundt (6-6), who beat the Warriors back on April 23rd, was tagged for eight hits and eleven earned runs in four-plus innings of work.

The same two teams meet at Harris Field, Monday night, at 6:30 PM. The game will conclude the regular season for the Warriors. Washington State will then travel to Tuscon to battle the Arizona Wildcats in a three-game PAC-10 series, starting Friday.

Box score at Washington State