Gonzaga University
Pepperdine
Pepperdine Takes Division Title With 4-1 Win Over Bulldogs
5/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 18, 2002
SPOKANE, Wash. - Brandon Boesch (6-4) scattered five Gonzaga hits on Saturday afternoon as Pepperdine (29-30, 17-12 WCC) clinched the West Coast Conference Coast Division championship with a 4-1 win over Gonzaga (27-28, 14-15 WCC) at August/A.R.T. Stadium. The two teams will play the final regular season contest of the year on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Pepperdine got all the offense it needed in the fourth inning as the Waves were able to take advantage of some good breaks. With one out and runners on first and second a ball hit by Chris Kelly took an awkward hop away from Bulldogs second baseman Eric Rodland and what looked like an inning ending double play ball turned into an RBI single for Kelly. The Waves then scored on a wild pitch as Ed Montague beat home a throw on the wild pitch by Gonzaga catcher Brian Munhall.
The Waves added two more runs against Gonzaga starter Errol Simonitsch (3-5) in the fifth inning as Duke Sardinha doubled down the left field line to score Brent Haapanen. Sardinha would score on a Montague single.
Gonzaga's only damage against Boesch came in the sixth inning as Kevin Cave hit the first pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. Boesch was able to pitch out of some potential scoring threats as the Waves defense turned in three double plays on the afternoon.
Montague led all players with three hits while Rock Mills and Ty Harper each had two hits. Munhall was the only Bulldogs player with multiple hits finishing the day 2-for-2. Gonzaga will recognize its nine seniors prior to Sunday's game as the Bulldogs season will come to a close. Pepperdine will host San Diego for the WCC Championship next weekend after playing at Gonzaga on Sunday. Portland was eliminated from the West Division race with a 8-5 loss to Loyola Marymount on Saturday.
