Gonzaga University
Penn State
Baseball Advances To Pepsi/Johnny Quik Championship
3/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 14, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - The Gonzaga University Bulldogs improved to 4-0-1 in the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic and advanced to Saturday night's championship game after the Bulldogs defeated Penn State (2-6) in the final day of pool play in Fresno, Calif. Gonzaga (8-9-1) won the contest 6-5 as they pounded out 14 hits in the win. The Bulldogs will face Fresno State or get a rematch with Cal Poly in Saturday's Championship. Gonzaga tied Cal Poly, 8-8, in divisional play on Wednesday.
Gonzaga starter Errol Simonitsch (3-2) was roughed up in the first inning as the Nittany Lions scored three early runs against the junior left-hander. Colin Runt cleared the bases with a 3-run double to left center. Simonitsch would settle down and pitch into the seventh with 10 strike outs to his credit.
After falling behind 4-0 on a squeeze bunt by Penn State's Derrick Barr in the top of the fourth, Gonzaga responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. David Johnson and Brad Welker had RBI singles in the inning to cut the deficit in half.
Gonzaga cut the lead to 4-3 with a Jeff Culpepper RBI double in the fifth and the Bulldogs took the lead with two runs in the sixth off a two-run home run by Danny Evans. David Johnson had tied the game earlier in the inning as he led off with a solo home run.
Penn State added a run in the seventh but Sean Lichter entered the game and closed the door with 2.2 hitless innings as he picked up his first save. Johnson and Gordon Corder led the Bulldogs with three hits each while Matt Harter had three hits for Penn State. Nittany Lions relief pitcher Steve Cline took the loss to fall to 0-1.
