Gonzaga University
San Francisco
Zags Swept In San Francisco
3/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 19, 2001
SAN FRANCISCO - Jason Howard homered to lead of the first inning and added a two-run shot in the second as San Francisco (13-10, 3-3 WCC) scored nine early runs and hung on to defeat Gonzaga (7-12, 2-4 WCC) 9-5 in Monday's series finale at Benedetti Diamond. San Francisco swept the three game series to move into second place in the West Coast Conference's Coast Division. The Zags have now dropped five straight and will host league leader Santa Clara on Saturday for a three-game conference set.
Howard started his big day leading off the bottom of the first with a solo home run. He would put the Dons up 4-0 in the second inning with his second long ball of the day off Gonzaga starter Sean Lichter (0-1). Lichter would start the third inning but would not survive much longer in his first outing since experiencing soreness in his pitching arm following his first start of the season on February 17.
The Dons added three more runs in the third inning as Jesse Foppert, Chad Soares and Jeremy Janz all drove home runs. Foppert would add the final Dons offense with a two-run home run in the fifth. That would prove to be all the offense San Francisco starter Peter Dunkle (3-1) would need as he pitched seven innings allowing only one earned run.
Gonzaga attempted a comeback in the sixth inning as Jared Hertz drove home the Zags first run with an RBI double. Kyle Rajsich and Nate Gold each followed with RBI's to close the gap to 9-3. Gold joined Eric Rodland with RBI singles in the 8th to finish off Gonzaga's scoring for the weekend.
Gold and Rodland each finished the day with 3 hits while Kevin Richardson added 2. Barry Matthews and Brian Munhall watched their hitting streaks end at 13 and 12 games as they each took the collar for the game. Howard and Steve Booth led the Dons with 3 hits.
Gonzaga will play its 2001 home opener this Wednesday when they host Whitworth at 2:00 p.m. at August/A.R.T. Stadium.
