Gonzaga University
Portland
Carlson Sparks Baseball To 11-5 Win
4/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 16, 2004
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University sophomore third baseman Bobby Carlson connected for a two-out, two-strike double to right field to spark a four-run Bulldogs rally as Gonzaga (13-21, 6-7 WCC) picked up an 11-5 win over the University of Portland (7-27, 3-10 WCC) as the two clubs opened their West Coast Conference series at Avista Stadium on Friday afternoon. Carlson would go on to finish the game 3-for-5 from the plate with four RBI as drove home two more runs in the Zags three-run fifth.
Portland scored games first run in the top of the fourth as Jeremy Crinklaw opened with a single to left and eventually came around to score on an RBI single by Justin Pierce to stake the Pilots to a 1-0 lead against Bulldogs starter Eric Dworkis (6-2). The Pilots would score two more in the fifth inning but would never seriously threaten after that as Dworkis tossed his third complete game of the season finishing with 10 strikeouts and no walks.
Gonzaga provided all the offense Dworkis would need in the bottom of the fourth as Carlson opened the door with his two-run double to right. Matt Reding follow with an RBI double and Mike Rundle capped the Bulldogs four-run outburst with a sharp single to right just over the head of Pilots first baseman Colton Homme. The Zags added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth which chased Pilots starter Matthew Peters (2-6) from the game. Carlson again provided the big hit with a two-run single through the left side of the infield. Jeff Culpepper also added an RBI single in the fifth for GU.
After falling behind 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Portland closed the gap to 4-3 in the fifth as Nik Kosach and Crinklaw each had sacrifice fly outs in the inning, the Bulldogs were able to end the inning as they tossed out Travis Vetters at third base as he tried to advance on the Crinklaw sacrifice. Joe Watson helped the Pilots get close in the eighth with a two-run home run to right field that cut the Bulldogs lead to 7-5.
Gonzaga added four insurance runs in the eighth as Brad Welker and David Johnson each drove home two runs with singles in bases loaded situations. Carlson led GU with three hits while Culpepper, Reding and Rundle each added two hits. Catcher Kiel Thibault was held hitless in five plate appearances to end his 15-game hitting streak and drop his season average to .454. Crinklaw was the only Portland player with multiple hits finishing 2-for-3 as Portland was held to eight hits. The same two teams will continue their WCC series on Saturday and Sunday, Saturday's game time has been moved back to a 3 p.m. while Sunday is a 1 p.m. start.
