March 26, 2004
Box Score
LOS ANGELES - Marshall Bratton connected for a two-run single and Jeff Culpepper added three more runs with a bases clearing double as the Gonzaga University Bulldogs (9-14, 3-1 WCC) exploded for five runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 2-2 tie and cruise to a 7-3 West Coast Conference victory over Loyola Marymount University (14-11, 5-2 WCC) on Friday afternoon at Page Stadium in Los Angeles. The two teams will return to action with single games on Saturday and Sunday with 1 p.m. start times on both days.
The game opened as a pitching duel between Gonzaga starter Eric Dworkis and LMU hurler Will Quaglieri with each pitcher allowing just six hits through the first eight innings of action. Gonzaga scored two runs in the fourth against Quaglieri as Matt Reding doubled to left field scoring Culpepper and Kiel Thibault. The Lions would return with two runs against Dworkis in the fifth as Joe Frazee had an RBI double and Chris Pettit dropped in an RBI single. Dworkis would last the entire game on the mound improving to 3-2 while Quaglieri was lifted with two outs in the eighth.
In the ninth Gonzaga loaded the bases with one out against LMU relief pitcher Gabriel Bueno (3-1) as Bobby Carlson and Chris Sinner each drew walks sandwiched around a single by Aaron McGuinness. Bueno would exit the game and Marshall Bratton laced a ball to left field against Erik Reyes to give Gonzaga a 4-2 lead. After Thibault singled to load the bases, Culpepper cleared them with his double to right center against Daniel Macias. The Lions would then turn a double play to end the inning on a sharp hit ball by Reding.
Loyola Marymount added one run in the bottom of the ninth against Dworkis as Frazee hit a sacrifice fly to left with one out in the inning. Dworkis picked up his first complete game of the season scattering eight hits and striking out three LMU batters. Billy Lockin, Clint McGill and Frazee each had two of the Lions eight hits.
Gonzaga was led at the plate by Thibault with a 3-for-5 afternoon, the sophomore catcher lifting his season average to .418. Bratton, Reding and Culpepper also had two hits as Gonzaga collected 11 hits against LMU pitching.
