March 23, 2003
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University (9-11-1, 1-4 WCC) and Santa Clara University (10-17, 2-2 WCC) split a Sunday West Coast Conference doubleheader after the two schools had the series opener rained out on Saturday afternoon at August/A.R.T. Stadium in Spokane. Each team took advantage of a 5-run inning in the game they won. The Bulldogs won the opener 9-7 after scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Santa Clara scored five runs in the top of the second as they cruised to a 10-0 win in the nightcap. The two schools will conclude the series on Monday at 2 p.m.
Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the sixth in the opener Danny Evans drew a walk to open the frame and moved to third as Chris Sinner singled and advanced to second on an outfield error. Nick Froman would single up the middle against Broncos reliever Chad Fillinger to tie the game at 5-5 and Eric Rodland drew a walk to load the bases. Fillinger then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Sinner to scoot home and give Gonzaga the go ahead run. Sam Hess would cap the Bulldogs five-run inning with a two-run single to left.
Santa Clara closed the gap to 9-6 with a Scott Dierks home run in the seventh, his second of the ball game. Ed Clelland would enter in the eighth and work two innings to pick up the save for Errol Simonitsch who improved to 4-2 on the season. Santa Clara hammered out five home runs during the game, four of them solo shots. Matt Travis (1-5) suffered the loss as he was lifted after facing two batters in the Bulldogs sixth.
Dierks led Santa Clara in the first game with three hits while Scott Shapiro had two. Jeff Culpepper and Froman each had two hits for Gonzaga while Gordon Corder had three RBI's, two coming on a home run in the fifth.
In the nightcap Santa Clara hurler Joe Diefenderfer scattered six Gonzaga hits as the senior lefty went the distance in a 10-0 Broncos win. SCU put five runs on the board in the top of the second and that would be enough to carry the team to victory. Mark Folgner had a two-run single to start the rally and then Dierks continued to swing a hot bat as he homered for the third time on the day, a three-run shot to left.
The Bulldogs were never able to get anything started against Diefenderfer (4-3) as he struck out seven and only walked two. Gonzaga's best threat of the afternoon was in third inning as Rodland reached on a perfect bunt down the third base line and Corder drove a ball to left. Santa Clara added four runs late in the game after scoring six early against Bulldogs starter Eric Dworkis (3-2).
Jason Matteucci led SCU in the second game with four hits while Jack Headley added three. David Johnson was the only Gonzaga player with multiple hits finishing 2-for-4.
