Gonzaga University
Saint Mary's
Baseball Sweeps WCC Opening Doubleheader
3/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2004
MORAGA, Calif. - Gonzaga University received two solid pitching performances on Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs opened West Coast Conference play with a doubleheader sweep against Saint Mary's College at Louis Guisto Field in Moraga. The Bulldogs (8-11, 2-0 WCC) won the opener 6-4 before shutting down the Gaels (5-17, 0-2 WCC) in the nightcap 8-2.
In the opener Gonzaga starter Eric Dworkis tossed seven innings allowing only one earned run, but needed some help from the bullpen as John Gonzalez (1-1) tossed a scored 1.1 innings to pick up the win as Gonzaga prevailed 6-4. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the ninth inning on a Mike Rundle two-run home run to account for the final margin of victory. It was Rundle's lone hit of the game as Gonzaga was led by Jeff Culpepper and Chris Sinner with three hits each.
Gonzaga scored first in the contest with an RBI single by Culpepper in the first inning. The Bulldogs increased that lead in the sixth with another Culpepper RBI and a run scoring single by David Johnson. The Gaels evened the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth scoring two unearned runs against Dworkis, Stephan Foushee delivering the big blow with a two-run home run.
Each team added a run in the eighth inning before Rundle was able to win the contest in the ninth against Dane Dobrinich (0-2). Culpepper drove home the Zags run in the eighth while Michael Harris had an RBI triple for Saint Mary's.
In the nightcap Gonzaga senior lefty Ed Clelland dominated Saint Mary's hitters as he allowed only two hits through eight innings while striking out 12 batters in the Zags 8-2 win. Clelland (1-3) walked only one Saint Mary's batter and exited the game after the eighth inning. Saint Mary's added two runs in the bottom of the ninth against the Bulldogs bullpen.
Gonzaga provided Clelland with all the offense he would need in the first inning as they scored four runs against Gaels starter Allan Lobban (0-4). Kiel Thibault drove home the first run with an RBI triple, his third three-bagger of the year. Culpepper, Johnson and Brad Welker all added RBI before the inning was done as three of the runs were unearned.
Chris Sinner added a couple of insurance runs in the sixth with a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Aaron McGuinness capped the Bulldogs scoring with an RBI triple in the seventh. McGuinness joined Johnson and Welker as Bulldogs with two hits while Thibault led all GU batters with three hits. Four Saint Mary's players collected hits, two coming in the ninth inning. Harris and Gil Bellows led SMC in game one with three hits each.
The two schools will wrap up their WCC series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Louis Guisto Field before the Bulldogs return home to face the University of Washington Monday and Tuesday in the home opener for Gonzaga. Both home games will be at 2 p.m. at Avista Stadium.
