April 5, 2000
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - In a game marked by stranded runners, Lewis-Clark State (30-7) pushed across two runs in the eighth and two runs in the ninth inning on Wednesday afternoon to defeat Gonzaga (15-15), 5-4, in a non-conference game at August / A.R.T. Stadium in Spokane. For the game a total of 29 runners were left on base with the Zags stranding 16 and the Warriors leaving 13.
Lewis-Clark State jumped on the board first in the top of the second inning as Trevor Brown hit his fifth home run off the year to give the Warriors an early 1-0 lead. Gonzaga answered quickly in the bottom of the second as Sam Hess drove home Kevin Hara to knot the score at 1-1. Hess went 2-for-4 on the afternoon filling in at first base for Adam Stokey.
Both teams received solid performances from their pitchers as the score stood tied at 1-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Barry Matthews then hit a full-count fastball over the fence in left center field to give Gonzaga their first lead of the game at 2-1. Lewis-Clark State answered with two runs in the top of the eighth capitalizing on two walks to open the inning. Catcher Gil Pierce doubled to left center to give LCSC back the lead at 3-2.
The Zags again answered the call in the bottom of the eighth inning chasing Warrior pitcher Wes Hutchison. Brent Church laid down a sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third base for the Zags. Barry Matthews then singled through the right-side scoring Eric Rodland and pinch runner Kevin Cave. David Aguilar (3-0) came in to relieve for Lewis-Clark State and would leave the game the winner after the Warriors batted in the ninth.
In the ninth inning, Lewis-Clark State opened the inning with back-to-back singles off Gonzaga reliever David Hixson (1-3). Designated hitter Kyle Woods would then hit a ball similar to Matthews single through the infield to give the Warriors a one run lead. Hixson would then strike out the next three batters to limit the Lewis-Clark State damage to two runs.
Gonzaga put runners at second and third base with one out, but Warrior reliever Nick Stelzner forced Brent Church into a hard ground out to collect his first save of the season. Eric Rodland led the Zags with a 5-for-6 afternoon while Barry Matthews went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI's. Kyle Woods led Lewis-Clark going 2-for-2 with two RBI's.
Gonzaga now jumps back into West Coast Conference action this weekend as the Zags travel south to take on Saint Mary's College in a three-game series in Moraga, CA. All games this weekend can be heard on Spokane radio station KTRW AM 970 or on the internet at www.gozags.com. First pitch for Saturday's double-header is set for 12 noon with veteran broadcaster Bob Robertson.
