March 17, 2000

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga (10-9, 3-2 WCC) received some clutch hitting Friday afternoon at August / A.R.T. Stadium as the Bulldogs edged No. 23 Loyola Marymount (14-7, 3-1 WCC), 5-4, in the first game of a West Coast Conference series in Spokane.

Loyola Marymount jumped out to a quick lead in the game as Scott Walter connected for his ninth home run of the season in the top of the first inning to put the Lions up 1-0. LMU would push across another run in the top of the second as Jaime Ornelas drove home Anthony Angel with an infield single.

Gonzaga would battle back in the bottom of the third inning, receiving some of the best situation hitting of the season. Kevin Hara opened the inning with a double down the left field line. The Zags would eventually load the bases and faced Lions starter Billy Traber (2-2) with two outs. Jason Bay broke open the Bulldogs drought with a two run single through the left side. The Zags would again load the bases after Adam Stokey was hit by a pitch to set the table for Barry Matthews. Matthews connected for a two run single to center to give the Bulldogs the lead. Traber would settle down for LMU and went the distance in the loss.

The Bulldogs final run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth as Brian Munhall scored from third base as Adam Stokey was being caught in a run-down. Munhall would score before the Lions could tag out Stokey to end the inning.

Freshman pitcher Sean Lichter (2-1) looked good for Gonzaga pitching into the 8th inning. Lichter allowed the first two Lions in the 8th to reach base before giving way to the Bulldogs bullpen. Mike Jackson would record two outs before LMU pinch-hitter David Maffei hit a triple to right-center to close gap to one run. David Hixson would then come out of the Bulldogs bullpen to strike out LMU pinch-hitter Robert Hirsh, stranding Maffei at third. Hixson would then force three ground ball outs in the ninth to record the save for Gonzaga.

The two teams will resume the three game series on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at August / A.R.T. Stadium. With the victory, Gonzaga closes to within a half-game of LMU for first place in the Coast Division.