Gonzaga University
Fresno State
Baseball Falls To Fresno State In Extra Innings
3/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 15, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - Casey McGehee connected for a run scoring double in the bottom of the 11th inning on Saturday night as Fresno State defeated Gonzaga, 4-3, to win the 2003 Pepsi/Johnny Quik Baseball Classic at Fresno, Calif. Fresno State improved to 12-12 overall as Gonzaga fell to 8-10-1 on the season.
After starting an hour later than scheduled due to rain in the Fresno area earlier Saturday, Fresno State jumped on the Bulldogs for two runs in the bottom of the third against GU starter Ed Clelland. Scott Beshears and Kent Sakamoto had the RBI's for the homestanding Bulldogs.
Gonzaga rallied in the top of the 4th as they scored three runs to take the lead. Brad Welker had an RBI double and was followed later in the inning by a two-run double by Grant Zurmely. Welker would lead the Bulldogs at the plate with a 4-for-5 effort. zurmely added two hits as Gonzaga pounded out 11 hits, Fresno State finished with 14.
Clelland pitched through the fifth and gave way to the Gonzaga bullpen which allowed the third Fresno State run to cross the plate on a wild pitch. Both teams struggled over the next couple of innings before McGehee finally broke the tie with a double in the 11th. The game lasted over three and a half hours ending before Midnight on Saturday.
Bryan Wolfenbarger improved to 2-2 in relief while Patrick Donovan was tagged with loss to fall to 1-2. Gonzaga now returns to Spokane to open play at August/A.R.T. Stadium as they start a 4-game homestand on Saturday afternoon with Santa Clara for three games and Whitworth for one game on Tuesday.
Fresno State finished the tournament with a 6-0 record while Gonzaga grabbed second place with a 4-1-1 record.
