April 21, 2001

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Kevin Richardson hit two three-run home runs Saturday afternoon as Gonzaga (20-18, 11-9 WCC) easily defeated Saint Mary's (14-27, 7-13 WCC) 13-3 in the middle game of a three-game West Coast Conference series at August/A.R.T. Stadium in Spokane.

Gonzaga's offense exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning as Eric Rodland doubled for the first of his four hits on the afternoon. After a Barry Matthews walk, Richardson sent the first of his two long balls out of the park to center. Nate Gold would follow with a double and score on a RBI single by John Gebbers. Gebbers scored the Zags fifth run on a RBI double by Kevin Cave.

Saint Mary's starter Eric Bowden (2-8) would start the second inning but exit after giving up consecutive hits to Rodland and Brian Munhall. Gonzaga would load the bases as Matthews was hit by Gaels relief pitcher Matt Dolen. Rodland scored on a Gold sacrifice fly and Jared Hertz would finish off the inning with a three-run homer to right field. That would be all the offense Barry Matthews (6-1) would need as he allowed three Gaels runs over seven innings of work.

The Gaels scratched out three runs in the top fourth as Kaazim Summerville led off the inning with double to left. After a walk by Mark Teahen, Tim Spooner singled to score Summerville and move Teahen to third. Teahen crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by John Engers. Saint Mary's final run scored as Nick Conte singled to score Spooner.

Gonzaga added a Gold solo home run in the bottom of the fourth and another three-run home run by Richardson in the seventh to round out the scoring. Phil Banta would relieve Matthews and pitch two hitless innings to close out the game.

Rodland led all batters with a 4-for-6 afternoon while Munhall, Matthews, Richardson, Gold and Gebbers all had two hits for the Zags. Summerville and Spooner each collected two of Saint Mary's six hits. The two teams will conclude the three game series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.