May 6, 2005
Final Stats
SPOKANE, Wash. - Junior right-hander Josh Monroe threw seven innings allowing two runs on three hits to lead Gonzaga University to a 12-4 West Coast Conference win over the University of San Diego Friday afternoon at Avista Stadium.
With the win the Bulldogs snap a three game losing streak, increase their WCC Coast Division lead over USD to two games, improve to 26-18 overall and 13-8 in the WCC. With the loss the Toreros drop to 27-24-1 overall and 13-12 in the WCC.
In a game that lasted four and a half hours because of a one hour rain delay, the Bulldogs had a great pitching performance from Monroe (8-3) who was credited with the win. Monroe allowed two runs on three hits while striking out three in seven innings of work. Then came the rain delay which forced the Zags to go to the bullpen where Josh Bryant and Chris Albrecht came in to each throw one inning allowing one run each while giving up five hits between the both of them.
Gonzaga did most of their damage in the fifth and sixth innings as they scored four runs in each inning. In the fifth inning Jackson Brennan led off reaching on a fielding error by the shortstop and moved to third on Jeff Culpepper's single to center field. Kiel Thibault then grounded out to second base which brought Brennan home for the first run of the inning. Bobby Carlson then hit his 14th double of the season which scored Culpepper from second. Will Ayala hit a run scoring double and Aaron McGuinness singled in the final run of the inning. In the sixth inning the Bulldogs scored their runs on a Culpepper double and a three run double by freshman left fielder Shawn Wayt to give GU a 10-2 cushion. GU would tack on two runs in the eighth and second innings to round out the scoring for the day.
USD scored their first run of the game on a Jordan Abruzzo solo home run in the second inning. The remaining three runs were scored on a Keoni Ruth RBI single in the sixth inning, a Mathew Falk RBI single in the eighth inning and a run scoring double by Jamie Hesselgesser in the ninth inning.
Gonzaga had six batters record multiple hits on the day. Scott Campbell, McGuinness, Brennan and Thibault all went 2-for-5. Culpepper and Wayt each went 2-for-4 with one double.
USD right-hander Josh Butler (7-6) was saddled with the loss for the Toreros as he allowed 10 runs, seven earned, on 13 hits in 5.2 innings of work.
The Bulldogs will look to increase their WCC Coast Division lead over San Diego on Saturday afternoon in a 1 p.m. game at Avista Stadium.
