March 20, 2005

Final Stats

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University baseball team avoided a three-game sweep with a 9-3 West Coast Conference win over Saint Mary's College Sunday afternoon at Avista Stadium.

With the win the Bulldogs improve to 13-9 overall and 1-2 in WCC play, while the Gales drop to 8-12 overall and 3-3 in WCC play.

After the Gaels jumped out to a 2-0 lead the Bulldogs' bats came alive in the fourth inning as they put up five runs on six hits. Catcher Kiel Thibault got things started for the Zags with his two run single through the right side which platted Darin Holcomb and Jeff Culpepper to knot the score at 2-2. SMC starting pitcher Jordan Simo then surrendered back-to-back RBI doubles to Will Ayala and Shawn Wayt for two more Bulldog runs. GU would cap their scoring in the fourth inning with Scott Campbell's RBI single through the left side giving GU a 5-3 advantage.

The Bulldogs would then put up four runs on four hits in the sixth inning and Saint Mary's would take one run back in the seventh to put the game at its final of 9-3.

Wayt was the offensive leader for the Bulldogs with his 2-for-4, two RBI, two runs scored and two doubles performance.

Junior Jay Bryner (3-2) picked up the win for the Bulldogs as he allowed one run on six hits in five innings of work. Simo (2-3) was saddled with the loss for the Gaels allowing nine runs on nine hits in six innings of work.

Gonzaga will be back in action on Thursday as they host the first game of a three-game WCC series with Loyola Marymount University at Avista Stadium at 2 p.m.