May 7, 2005
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - The University of San Diego scored five runs in the last three innings to defeat the Gonzaga University Bulldogs, 6-2, in a West Coast Conference game at Avista Stadium Saturday afternoon.
With the win the Toreros evened the three-game series, pulled to within one game of the Bulldogs for the WCC Coast Division lead, improved to 28-24-1 overall and 14-12 in the WCC. With the loss the Zags drop to 26-19 overall and 13-9 in the WCC.
Gonzaga got on the boards first as they scored one run on two hits in the second inning. Shawn Wayt started things off with a walk and moved to second on Will Ayala's single to center field. Aaron McGuinness then drove in Wayt on a double down the left field line to give the Zags an early advantage.
After the Toreros even things up in the fourth inning on a Justin Snyder solo home run the Bulldogs regained the lead in the fifth inning scoring one unearned run on one hit. McGuinness led off the inning with a single through the left side and advanced to second when Scott Campbell was hit by a pitch. Darin Holcomb then hit the ball to the third baseman who made the force out at third, then threw the ball in the direction of first base attempting to throw Holcomb out. However, there was no San Diego player at first base which allowed Holcomb to advance to second on the throwing error and moved Campbell to third. After the Toreros loaded the bases with an intentional walk to Kiel Thibault, Bobby Carlson walked in the lone run of the inning.
USD would then rally in the late innings scoring the final five runs of the game to even the series at one game apiece. San Diego scored their runs on a Tyler Fernandez double in the seventh inning, Snyder's second home run of the game in the eighth inning and on a Shane Buschini two run home run and a Logan Gelbrich RBI single in the ninth inning to put the game at its final of 6-2.
McGuinness led the Bulldogs offense as he went 3-for-4 with one RBI and one double.
Toreros starter Justin Blaine (8-4) picked up the win allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits in 7.2 innings of work, and Matthew Falk picked up the save for USD allowing no runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of relief. Gonzaga left-hander Patrick Donovan (5-6) was saddled with the loss allowing three runs on six hits in eight innings of work.
The Bulldogs and Toreros will battle in a 1 p.m. rubber game on Sunday at Avista Stadium.
