Feb. 29, 2004

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine Anteaters (9-2-1) scored four runs in the second and five runs in the fourth and used the those two big innings to sweep the Gonzaga University Bulldogs (2-8) with a 9-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Anteater Ballpark. The loss was the seventh straight for the Bulldogs, all seven losses coming to ranked opponents as UC Irvine entered the weekend ranked 30th in the nation.

UC Irvine scored all the runs they would need in the second inning against Bulldogs starter Eric Dworkis (1-2) as they collected five hits in the inning. Erik Johnson drove home the first run of the inning with a single to left. Chad Lundahl and Jeff Werhun would close out the scoring with RBI hits later in the inning, Werhun connecting for one of his two RBI on a double.

Gonzaga cut into the Anteaters lead in the top of the fourth scoring two runs against UCI starter Chris Nicoll (1-0). Chris Sinner delivered the big hit with a two-run single to left field. Both runs were unearned and Nicoll would pitch into the sixth inning allowing a total of seven hits on the afternoon. David Huff and Kevin Fox would finish out the game for UCI allowing only one more Gonzaga hit.

The Anteaters extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth as Werhun singled home the first run. Patrick Donovan would relief Dworkis and surrender a grand slam to Matt Fisher to cap the UC Irvine scoring. Five UCI players would finish with two hits on the afternoon.

Gonzaga was led by Marshall Bratton with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Mike Rundle also added two hits for GU. The Bulldogs will return to action on Friday afternoon with the first of four games in the Banana Belt Classic in Lewiston, Idaho. Gonzaga opens play at 1 p.m. against Utah Valley State College before a 4 p.m. game with host Lewis-Clark State College. Single games against the University of Portland and Washington State University are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.