March 13, 2009
SPOKANE, Wash. - Two big Gonzaga innings doomed Utah Valley in the first two games of a four-game series on Friday in Spokane. The Bulldogs (9-5) broke open two late tied games to win 8-3 and 10-5 to send the Wolverines (5-9) to what is now a four-game losing streak.
Tied 3-3 in the first game, Gonzaga scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth before a five-run seventh in the second game broke open a 5-5 game.
The Wolverines lost the opener despite out-hitting Gonzaga 9-6. Five of the eight Bulldog runs that scored reached base via a walk or hit-by-pitch.
Trailing 3-0 after five, Utah Valley scored three quick runs in the sixth to tie the game. After back-to-back singles by Cole Anderson and Ryan Jones, Jace Brinkerhoff doubled home Anderson. Chris Benson then delivered one of his three hits in the game, a single to right, scoring Jones. Brinkerhoff then came home on a throwing error to tie the game.
The Bulldogs came right back with four in the bottom of the inning. A hit batter and consecutive walks loaded the bases with nobody out when Royce Bollinger drove home two runs with a pinch-hit single up the middle.
After another single, Gonzaga scored its final two runs of the inning on a bases-loaded walk and a hit batter.
Brock Sargent (1-2) took the loss after giving up six runs on three hits in 5.0 innings. Sargent walked five and struck out four. Matt Fields (1-1) got the win after throwing 7.1 innings while allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out six.
In the second game UVU jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead, scoring four unearned runs. Anderson scored after an error on the catcher allowed him to come home on a Brinkerhoff grounder. Jones scored when Sage Thorpe hit into a fielder's choice and Brinkerhoff touched home following a wild pitch. Jake Rickenbach then walked with the bases loaded and two out to plate Thorpe.
After a single run by Gonzaga in the first, both teams went scoreless until the sixth when four runs gave the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead.
Benson tied the game with the seventh with a solo home run to left with two outs before the fateful five-run seventh proved to be the difference.
Like in the first game, free passes came back to haunt UVU again. Four of Gonzaga's runs reached on walks or hit batters and one runner scored after reaching on an error.
Ryan Wiegand, who drove in two runs in the first game, had two hits and three RBI to lead the Bulldogs while Jones and Rickenbach had two hits apiece for Utah Valley.
Friday was changed from a single game to a doubleheader in anticipation of storms late Saturday and early Sunday. The teams are scheduled to play the final two games of the series beginning Saturday a 1 p.m. MT.
