Gonzaga University
UCLA
Zags Baseball Drops Season Opener 5-2
2/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 1, 2002
LOS ANGELES - The UCLA Bruins (1-1) took advantage a Gonzaga error in the second inning Friday night as the Bruins scored three runs during a 5-2 win over the Bulldogs (0-1) at Jackie Robinson Stadium. It was the season opener for the Bulldogs.
UCLA jumped on the board in the first inning as Adam Berry singled home Josh Arhart to stake the Bruins to the early lead against Gonzaga starter Errol Simonitsch. The Zags would answer with a run in the top half of the second as Eric Rodland's fielder's choice scored Kemp Quackenbush.
After Simonitsch (0-1) retired the first Bruins batter of the second, Ryan Rasmussen doubled to start a string of three consecutive hits. An error on Zags infielder John Gebbers extended the innings and Casey Janssen drove home the next Bruins run.
That would be all the offense UCLA starter Mike Kunes would need as he pitched five innings of baseball for his first win of the season. Kyle Wilson would pitch the final four innings to collect the save.
Gonzaga would get a solid bullpen effort from lefthander John Gonzalez who stepped in for Simonitsch in the fourth inning. Gonzalez would pitch five innings allowing only one additional UCLA run in the eighth.
The final Bulldogs run would also come in the eighth inning as Rodland connected for an RBI double. Grant Zurmely joined Rodland as the only Bulldogs with multiple hit games. Janssen led UCLA with a 3-for-4 night. The two teams will resume this series on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. start.
