Gonzaga University
Saint Mary's
Baseball Drops Series Opener, 6-1
5/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 2, 2003
SPOKANE, Wash. - Saint Mary's College (18-26-1, 8-13-1 WCC) starting pitcher Eric Bowden (7-5) scattered six Gonzaga University (20-23-1, 8-14 WCC) hits on Friday afternoon as the Gaels won the series opener, 6-1, at Spokane Falls Community College. Bowden picked up the complete game victory with only one Bulldogs run crossing the plate in the bottom of the fourth.
The Bulldogs did strike first in the contest as David Johnson took a fast ball the other way to right field with runners on first and second in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Sinner would come around to score after reaching base on an infield bunt and moving to second on a Gordon Corder single to left. Bowden would only allow three more hits on the afternoon as he struck out five Gonzaga batters.
Gonzaga starter Ed Clelland (4-4) kept pace through the first five innings as he held Saint Mary's in check until the top of the sixth. Delaney Gallagher started the rally with a one out double to right center. After Bryan Bryne drew a walk, Tim Spooner connected for a three-run home run to left field that would give Saint Mary's all the offense it would need.
The Gaels tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh as a pair of Gonzaga errors led to two unearned runs on a RBI single by Gallagher and sacrifice fly by Byrne. Adam Bellows added an RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Johnson drove home the lone Bulldogs run as six Gonzaga players finished with singles. Gallagher and Bellows each had two hits for Saint Mary's which finished with nine hits in the ballgame. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon starting at Noon to accommodate traffic patterns for Sunday's Bloomsday Race in Spokane.
