March 1, 2002

Box Score

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State (7-6) scored three unearned runs in the seventh and eighth innings on Friday afternoon as the Beavers won their 2002 home opener 11-9 over the Gonzaga Bulldogs (5-6). The two teams will resume the weekend series with a 1p.m. game on Saturday afternoon at Goss Stadium.

The Beavers scored the games first runs when Brian Barden hit a two-run homerun in the bottom of the first against Zags starter Eric Dworkis. Dworkis would limit the Beavers to only hit through the next three innings but was lifted in the fifth when OSU hit three sharp singles to open the inning as the Beavers exploded for six runs.

Gonzaga had matched Oregon State's early two runs with a solo homerun by Nate Gold in the fourth and a sacrifice fly by Jeff Culpepper in the fifth.

After the Zags tied the game in the top of the fifth OSU strung together three staight hits to load the bases against Dworkis to open the bottom of the frame. Dworkis walked the next batter before being lifted for John Gonzalez. Kerisi Reynolds greeted Gonzalez with a two-run single that gave the Beavers a 6-2 lead. An RBI single by Chris Biles and sacrifice fly by Tom Creighton capped the Oregon State inning.

The Bulldogs responded with a big inning of their own in the top of the sixth as Brian Munhall and Kemp Quackenbush reached on a walk and single. Garth Blumberg's two-out, two-run double with two outs sparked the start of the Bulldogs comeback. Pinch hitter Sam Hess extended the inning with an RBI single setting the table for an infield single by Eric Rodland and and walk by Culpepper. Kevin Richardson put the Zags in the lead with a grand slam to left center that highlighted the Zags seven run inning.

With a one-run lead Gonzaga worked out a first and second jam in the sixth and set down the first two batters in the seventh. Creighton reached on an infield error in the seventh and came around to tie the game on a double down the right field line by Wick Udy. Oregon State scored the games final two runs in the eighth inning as Gonzaga committed two infield errors on sacrifice bunt attempts by the Beavers.

Ty Kline (1-0) picked up the win for Oregon State with 3.1 innings of relief. Greg Brooks (2-1) was tagged with the loss despite not giving up an earned run in his 1.1 innings of work.

Rodland led the Zags with a 3-for-4 day at the plate while Blumberg went 2-for-4. Reynolds led the Beavers with three hits.