Cougar baseball overcomes slow start, captures series from OSU

by Dancing Football on May 17, 2009 5:41 PM PDT in General Cougar Athletics Comment 10 comments

Washington State fell behind early, but was able to battle back and rally in the ninth to take a huge Pac 10 series from OSU Sunday afternoon.

The Oregon State Beavers jumped on Washington State starter David Stilley early, storming out to a 4-0 lead after three innings. Stilley only lasted one out into the third before giving way to the Coug bullpen. The bullpen was able to do solid work in holding the Beavers to just two more runs for the remainder of the game while the Cougar offense came to life.

Wazzu got on the board in the top of the fourth with three runs capped by an RBI single by senior Jared Prince. The Cougs were able to take their first lead of the day after a two-run shot over the left field fence by sophomore shortstop Shea Vucinich.

The Beavers battled back in the seventh when catcher Ryan Ortiz went opposite field for a solo shot to tie the game at six.

In the decisive 9th, second baseman Cody Bartlett led off with a single to center before being bunted over to second by centerfielder Garry Kuykendall. Sophomore catcher Jay Ponciano then drove in the go ahead run to produce the winning margin of 7-6.

The Cougs improved to 28-22 overall and 16-8 in Pac 10 play. They remain in second place and will be atleast 1.5 games ahead of the Huskies, their final conference opponent of the regular season. Taking the series over the Huskies should guarantee the Cougs a berth into regionals for the first time in nearly two decades.

This season has become a truly historic one for Cougar baseball and the ride continues with in-state rivals Gonzaga this Tuesday in Spokane. A win there would certainly help the Cougs' postseason cause.

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Awesome :)

I hope they make it to the postseason.

by james_WSU on May 17, 2009 6:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ok, if you were Marbut, who do you pitch against the Zags on Tuesday?

I was thinking you could go way and plan for 5 innings and preserve for Sunday’s contest. However, why mess with a good thing with his Friday night starts because they set the tone for the series.
I just don’t know who we got with. Johnson has logged alot of innings lately and so I don’t see him utilized in long relief against the Zags. But I think we need to beat the Zags.
Once again, I stand up on the podium shouting the choir that it is absurd of this midweek non-conference contests against somewhat decent non-BCS type schools because they load up to play against the big boys while the big boys preserve their arms for the weekend conference series.

by ptowncoug3012 on May 17, 2009 8:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on May 17, 2009 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dawgies go down! Give up 6 runs late to lose to AZ

UW is now 13-10 with another game tomorrow against AZ. Come on Wildcats. A little bit of breathing room for our Cougs.
Wouldn’t it be great for the dogs to lose again tomorrow and place us strongly in 2nd place.

by ptowncoug3012 on May 17, 2009 9:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather pound them ourselves....

Why let AZ have all the fun? It doesn’t matter who pitches against Gonzaga, we will still beat them. Cougs are on a roll right now. Mutts are going to pay.

It’s not Kurkendall, it’s Kuykendall. Simple as that. It’s totally unfathomable how every single announcer mispronounces it. Isn’t it their jobs to get that part right? Just saying….

Go Cougs!!!

by SW WA Coug on May 17, 2009 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zags are going to the NCAAs. They are a tough ticket and gives us

issues at time, particularly with their hitting.

Honestly, I don’t know what is, but our game announcer for home games says “KURKendall”. As Kuykendall never looks back to the announcer box.

by ptowncoug3012 on May 18, 2009 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it really is pronounced Kurkendall.....

It would be interesting to find out for sure. The people at Auburn HS pronounced it Kuykendall when his dad was the coach.

by SW WA Coug on May 18, 2009 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm on it.

I should have a final verdict for you at some point today.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on May 18, 2009 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

One last thing on Kuykendall.

I can’t recall the debate about how to pronounce his name, but I swear the above is the correct spelling, but every announcer, I mean everyone, including the OSU guys say “KURKendall”.
Someone please explain it to me.

by ptowncoug3012 on May 17, 2009 9:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs