Gonzaga University
Washington State
Zags Power Past Cougs 12-9
3/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 2, 2001
Walla Walla, Wash. - Gonzaga (3-5) scored four runs in the fifth and added four more in the eighth as the Zags powered past Washington State 12-9 on Friday afternoon at Walla Walla Community College.
After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a RBI double by Jared Hertz and run scoring single by Kevin Richardson the Zags watched Washington State slowly creep back into the game.
The Cougs (4-9) scored a single run in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Mike Knight that just cleared the right field foul pole. WSU added three more in the top of the fifth as Richard Hall drove home the first run of the inning with a RBI double. Evan Hecker and Knight added RBI singles to end the WSU scoring against Gonzaga starter Barry Matthews. Matthews (2-0) would work through the inning and pitch through the seventh to earn his second win of the season.
Gonzaga would respond in their half of the fifth inning as the Zags loaded the bases against Cougar starter Zach Fisher (0-3). Brian Munhall followed with a sacrifice fly to center to bring the Bulldogs to within 4-3. Zags third baseman John Gebbers then greeted WSU reliever Tyson Thompson with a three-run home run to left field giving Gonzaga a 6-4 advantage.
The Bulldogs put the game away in the bottom of the eighth inning as they jumped on Cougar relievers Sean Donlin and Tony Auckland for four runs. Hertz delivered the big blow for the Zags with a bases clearing three-run double to right center. Pinch-runner Matt Reding scored on the next at-bat as Munhall hit a double to right ending the Zags scoring.
Washington State made the game interesting as they pushed across four runs in the top of the ninth. After watching the opening two batters of the inning go down on strikes, the Cougs sent eight men to the plate with Adrian Thomas delivering a big 3-run shot that closed the margin to 12-8. Stefan Bailie followed with a double and was driven home on a single by Bookie Gates. WSU eventually loaded the bases and sent pinch-hitter Jamin Svendsen to the plate to try to be the hero of the day. Gonzaga reliever Kyle Nearhood was able to strike out Svendsen to pick up his first collegiate save and preserve the victory for the Zags.
Hertz and Munhall each collected three hits for the Bulldogs while Hecker and Knight led the Cougars with 3 hits. The two teams will resume the four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday at Walla Walla Community College. Game time is set for 11 a.m.
