March 16, 2002

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Oral Roberts University starter Michael Rogers (5-0) pitched a five-hit complete game on Saturday afternoon as the Golden Eagles (12-8) defeated Gonzaga, 4-1, in the third place game of the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. The Bulldogs (11-11) finished the tournament 3-3.

Rogers held the Bulldogs offense in check all afternoon allowing only two extra base hits, both to Gonzaga first baseman Nate Gold. Gold belted his 14th homerun of the season in the top of second inning to give GU its only lead at 1-0.

Oral Roberts responded with single runs in the second and third innings to give Rogers all the offensive support he would need. ORU tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. Eric Thornton drove home two of the Golden Eagles four runs on the afternoon.

Bulldogs starter Errol Simonitsch (1-2) pitched seven innings in the loss with Kemp Quackenbush tossing a scoreless eighth.

Gold went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead Gonzaga. His homerun moved him into a tie for seventh place on the Bulldogs career homerun list with 27. Wilton Reynolds led Oral Roberts with three hits, Thornton and Billy Richardson each added two hits.

Gonzaga will return to action next Saturday when they resume West Coast Conference play at Santa Clara. The Bulldogs finished their nine games in nine days road trip with a 5-4 record.