March 24, 2002
Box Score Game 1 Box Score Game 2
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara (12-14, 3-1 WCC) scored four runs in the second game of a Sunday doubleheader to sweep Gonzaga (11-13, 2-3 WCC) in both West Coast Conference games at Buck Shaw Stadium. Santa Clara won the opener 10-4 before rallying to win the second game 5-4.
In game one Gonzaga struck first when John Gebbers led off with a double down the left line in the third. Eric Rodland would single to center to give Gonzaga a 1-0 lead. Santa Clara responded with four runs in the bottom of the third as Pat Peavey hit a three-run home run to centerfield. Dan Vincenzi scored the Broncos other run of the inning on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Chiarelli.
Garth Blumberg's two-run home run in the top of the fourth closed the Broncos lead to 4-3. Santa Clara extended its lead back to two runs with a AJ LaBarbera sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning. Nate Gold connected for his 15th home run of the season in the fifth to bring Gonzaga to within one at 5-4.
Santa Clara again jumped on Gonzaga starting pitcher Eric Dworkis (4-2) with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jack Headley's two-run home run pushed the Broncos ahead 7-4. The Broncos would add two more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth on a Joey Gomes home run.
Chad Fillinger (3-2) went the distance for Santa Clara allowing only seven hits. Rodland and Gold led Gonzaga with two hits each in the opener. Peavey, Gomes, Headley and Vincenzi all finished with two hits for Santa Clara.
In the nightcap defensive replacement Scott Dierks hit a two run single up the middle with bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth as Santa Clara scored four runs to gain a 5-4 come from behind victory.
Gold's double to left center scored Rodland for Gonzaga's first run of the game in the third. Headley's single to right scored Gomes from second base in the fifth inning to tie the score at 1-1. Gonzaga starter Errol Simonitsch looked strong for the Bulldogs allowing only one Santa Clara run in seven innings of work with nine strike outs.
The Bulldogs appeared to be headed towards handing Simonitsch the win as they scored three runs in the top of the eighth. Kevin Richardson drove home the Zags second run with a sacrifice fly before pinch hitter Sam Hess delivered with a two-run double to left center.
Gonzaga closer Eric Everson (0-2) easily worked through the Broncos in the eighth before running into trouble in the ninth. He sat down the first Santa Clara batter of the inning before Peavey and Gomes had back-to-back hits, Gomes hit being an RBI double. After a fly out by Headley, David Mandley singled to center to close the Gonzaga lead to 4-3. After AJ Anderson was hit by a pitch, Dierks delivered the game winning hit.
Brian Munhall, Gold and John Gebbers all finished with two hits for Gonzaga in the second game. Gomes was the only SCU player with multiple hits finishing with two. Jared Anderson (1-0) picked up the win with 1.1 innings of relief.
The two teams will conclude the WCC series on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. Gonzaga will then host Saint Mary's in a three-game WCC series starting on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. at August/A.R.T. Stadium.
