WSU NEWS AND NOTES: Baseball Destroys Oklahoma State, 13-2

Lots of little bits of news out there today, so here we go.

The baseball team is in Tucson, Ariz., for the Dairy Queen Classic hosted by ... Minnesota. (I'm not kidding.) The Cougs started the "tournament" -- which is really just a round robin series against three different teams -- off on the right foot by dismantling Oklahoma State, 13-2.

Lefty starter Adam Conley again shut down an opponent, giving up just one run in seven innings of work, despite allowing nine hits. He had five strikeouts and zero walks.

The big story, though, was the bats. Matt Argyropoulos continued his ridiculous start going 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and a walk. He's now batting .588 and slugging 1.059 on the year. And newcomer Taylor Ard put on another power display, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, giving him the team lead in homers with three. Catcher Jay Ponciano was 2-for-4 in his debut after returning from injury. Full box score here.

The Cougs continue today with a game against the "host" Gophers at noon. No moving pictures, but you can listen to audio via Cougars All-Access if you purchased the package (or picked up a free month with the code FREEMONTH10) or follow it via Minnesota's website. 

On to other news ...

UCLA vs. WSU minus Thompson, Moore - Spokesman.com - March 4, 2011
"We’re just going to try to piece it together," Bone said. "We’re just going to have odd combinations (on the floor), similar to the Arizona State game but probably even more unique lineups. I don’t see any way around it."

Thompson? We'll only have noses out of joint a little while - Spokesman.com - March 4, 2011
The crime, of course, is not some piddly weight. It’s not grasping the reality that a law, no matter how dubiously defensible, is a law, and that sports is a fishbowl, particularly in Pullman. No athlete is either invisible or bulletproof, and there are teammates to be considered, always. Klay Thompson will be sentenced to embarrassment, and highly temporary embarrassment at that. Unless his father gets near a microphone.

Bud Withers | WSU star Klay Thompson shows serious lack of judgment, leadership | Seattle Times Newspaper
Ken Bone, the WSU coach, has to come in for some criticism here. He's the CEO of a program that's had two busts in a couple of months. Perhaps the one-game suspension of Moore in January, and the delay in getting it resolved, sent a message of lax leadership. But it's really more about kids who ought to know better making mistakes.

Palileo Resigns as Washington State Volleyball Coach - WASHINGTON STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
Andrew Palileo coached three seasons with the Cougars, compiling a 34-54 record. He led the Cougars to the 2009 NCAA Championships tournament and was named Pacfic-10 Conference Coach of the Year. Palileo has a 273-195 (.583) record in 14 seasons as a collegiate volleyball coach. He is exploring other opportunities.