Feb. 12, 2005

Box Score

SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Gonzaga University baseball team (2-2) used a four run ninth inning rally to hand the University of Oklahoma Sooners (0-1) an 8-5 loss in the first game of the Coca-Cola Spring Training Tournament Saturday afternoon.

The Sooners jumped out to the early lead in the first inning when senior first basemen Eric Thornton hit an RBI double to right field bringing across freshman Kody Kaiser.

The Bulldogs responded in the third when junior center fielder Jackson Brennan hit a solo home run to knot the score at one run apiece. The Zags took the lead when OU's starting pitcher John Brownell was called for a balk with the bases loaded allowing Scott Campbell, who had singled, to score from third.

GU kept the momentum going in the fourth when Campbell doubled down the left field line bringing home freshman Will Ayala and Shawn Wayt to give the Bulldogs a three run cushion.

OU got one back in the fourth on a wild pitch by Gonzaga starting pitcher Josh Monroe, and took the lead of the game in the eighth inning as they scored three runs on three hits giving them a 5-4 lead.

The Bulldogs bats exploded in the final inning as the Bulldogs scored four runs on four hits. Senior right fielder Jeff Culpepper singled in two runs to give GU back a one run lead. Junior Bobby Carlson then hit a two run home run off Oklahoma relief pitcher P.J. Sandoval to put the game at its final of 8-5.

Campbell led the Zags offense as he went 4-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored.

Freshman Brandon Harmon (1-0) picked up the win for the Bulldogs as he allowed one run on one hit in one inning of work. Junior Nate Williams recorded the save for the Bulldogs allowing zero runs in one inning of work. Will Savage (0-1) took the loss for the Sooners giving up two runs on three hits in 4.1 innings of work.

The Bulldogs will be back in action at 4 p.m. Saturday as they play the University of South Alabama in the second game of a doubleheader.