Gonzaga University
San Francisco
Dons Put Gonzaga Away With 4-Run Sixth
4/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2002
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - The University of San Francisco broke open a tight game with four runs in the sixth inning in defeating Gonzaga University 9-2 Saturday in the middle game of a three-game West Coast Conference baseball series at Benedetti Field.
The Dons (9-30, 2-14 Coast Division) snapped a 10-game losing streak with the victory. Gonzaga (18-17, 7-7 West Division) won Friday's opener 8-4.
USF scored three runs in the first inning off Gonzaga starter and loser Errol Simonitsch (2-3). Two runs scored when Luke Gradishar doubled to center scoring Armand Gaerlan, and Joe Jacobitz came all the way around from first on an error by Bulldog center fielder Kevin Cave. Gaerlan and Jacobitz were aboard on one-out singles. Gradishar advanced to third on the error, then scored on Steve Booth's sacrifice fly to right.
Gonzaga got back into the game when Grant Zumerly hit his third home run in two days, a one-out solo shot in the second, and Nate Gold followed with his 23rd home run of the season in the third, also a one-out solo round tripper. Gold, who became Gonzaga's all-time single-season leader with his 22nd home run last week, now has 36 in his career to move into sole possession of second place on the all-time Gonzaga list behind the 54 of Jeff Hainline (1984-88). Gold was tied with Jason Bay (1999-00).
Following Zumerly's two-out single in the fourth, the Bulldogs didn't get another hit until Gold's single in the eighth.
Clinging to the 3-2 lead, USF put the game away with a single run in the fifth on Gaerlan's first of two home runs, and four in the sixth capped by Gaerlan's two-out, two-run homer, his ninth of the season. All four runs were unearned as Royce Fukuroku reached base to open the inning on third baseman Jeff Culpepper's error. Alfonso Valdez ended the USF scoring with a solo homr run in the seventh, his second of the season.
Bryan Williams (2-5) went the distance for the Dons, allowing just five hits, walking four and striking out six.
The teams will complete the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
