March 19, 2000

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - In the second game of the Sunday double-header, Loyola Marymount scored six runs in the second inning off Gonzaga starter Barry Matthews (4-1) and held on for an 8-4 victory to avoid being swept in the three game conference series.

The Zags looked like they were going to continue the Sunday hit parade as the Bulldogs posted a run in the opening frame off LMU starter Ben Bonilla (3-0). Bonilla would settle down and limit the Zags to just three earned runs in seven-plus innings of work.

After falling behind 1-0, LMU mounted its best offensive inning of the three game series. The Lions used a combination of walks and sharp base hits to slowly collect the six runs. Mario Cordero's single past a diving Danny Evans scored two runs for the Lions and was quickly followed by a two-run double by Robert Hirsh.

Gonzaga battled back into the game and cut the lead to 6-3 with single runs in the second and third inning. The Lions were able to put two insurance runs on the board in the top of the seventh, the first on a Jaime Ornelas sacrifice fly to center. Gonzaga threatened again in the bottom of the eighth inning but could only score one run off LMU reliever James Clelland. The Zags best shot was hauled in by Ornelas at the left field warning track as Barry Matthews crushed a ball into a driving wind. Ornelas collected three RBI's on the afternoon for the Lions.

The Zags now stand just a half-game back of Loyola Marymount in the Coast Division race after taking two games in the weekend series. Gonzaga will travel next weekend to San Francisco for a three game weekend series and a single game Monday night against WCC opponent Santa Clara.