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Mills Dominant, Kolden Leads Cougar Offense in 19-5 Win

Feb 26, 2021

WSU-Dixie State BOX | Boxscore

ST. GEORGE, Utah. (Feb. 26, 2021) – Washington State used 16 hits including four home runs and a dominant 13-strikeout performance from Zane Mills to post a 19-5 victory over Dixie State Friday afternoon.
 
WSU's 19 runs are the most runs scored since scoring 20 in the win over Brown in 2013 while Mills' 13 strikeouts matched the program record in the aluminum bat era, tying James Freeman (at SE Lousiana, 2005) and Matt Way (Washington, 2009). Mills was dominant, allowing just three hits, one earned run, struck out a career-high 13 and did not walk a batter in seven innings of work, throwing just 99 pitches to earn his second straight win.
 
The Cougars improved to 5-1 for the first time since 2011, matching the 2011 club's start. Junior leadoff hitter Kodie Kolden led the way offensively, going 5-for-5 with six RBI, four runs scored, a three-run home run and stole a base while junior first baseman Kyle Manzardo drove in five runs including a grand slam that extended his hitting streak to 23 games, passing John Olerud for the third-longest hitting streak in program history. Senior outfielder Collin Montez homered twice for the third time in his career and also scored three times while senior outfielder Justin Van De Brake also scored three runs and graduate transfer designated hitter Tristan Peterson doubled twice drove in two runs.
 
The Cougars jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage with three runs in the first inning. Kolden led off the game with single into centerfield and scored all the way from first on Peterson's RBI-double into right centerfield. Following a walk, Jake Meyer pulled an RBI-single through the left side to score Peterson and Jack Smith added his own RBI-single to left field to score Collin Montez.
 
In the third, Kolden pushed the lead to 6-0 with a two-out three-run homer to left field, a no-doubter for his first of the season. One inning later, Montez got into the action with a solo homer to centerfield to make it a 7-0 Cougar lead.
 
The Cougars pulled away with a five run fifth inning, using three hit-by-pitches, a Dixie State error and a pair of hits including an opposite field grand slam off the bat of Manzardo for a 12-0 lead. The was more than enough for Mills who allowed a one-out double in the second inning before retiring the next nine batters he face. The Trailblazers put a run on the board with a solo homer in the fifth.
 
Manzardo drove in two more runs with a two-run single down the right field line in the sixth and Peterson followed with an RBI-double to left for a 15-1 advantage. Kolden drove in two more with a single in the seventh and Montez made it 19-1 with a two-run shot in the eighth. Dixie State pushed four runs across in the ninth off the Cougar bullpen.
 
INSIDE THE GAME 2 BOX SCORE
Manzardo homered in the 5th inning to extend his on-base streak to 31 games and his hitting streak to 23 games dating back to 2019
 
NEXT UP
The series continues Saturday at 1:05 p.m. (PT).
 
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