Feb. 25, 2006

Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. - Gonzaga University's baseball team fell behind 6-0 early and a Bulldog comeback fell short in an 8-6 loss Saturday to the University of Washington in the middle game of their three-game weekend series at Husky Ballpark.

The loss was the third in the last four games for the Bulldogs (7-5).

As they did in Friday's 14-4 victory in the series opener, the Huskies used the long ball again Saturday. Andy Lentz had a pair of round trippers and Zach Clem a 2-run homer as the Huskies now have eight home runs against Gonzaga.

Washington jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning and got the ball out of the infield just once off Gonzaga starter and loser Clayton Mortenson whose record evened at 2-2. Jake Rife led off with a single up the middle, Andy Lentz walked and Matt Lane drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Curt Rindal's infield single to the left side scored Rife and left the bases loaded for Matt Stevens' RBI walk that scored Lentz. Lane scored the final run on a balk.

The Huskies pushed the lead to 6-0 in the second inning. Lentz' one-out homer to center made the score 4-0. Matt Hague singled to left and Clem followed with a two-run home run to left centerfield for the 6-0 lead.

Aaron McGuinness cut the Washington lead in half with one swing of the bat in the fourth inning for his third home run of the season. Bobby Carlson and Will Ayala drew one-out walks ahead of McGuinness' blast to left field off Washington starter Kyle Parker.

Washington got one run back in the bottom of the fourth, Lentz leading off with a double to left centerfield and Hague following with an RBI-single.

Gonzaga cut the Washington lead to 7-5 in the sixth inning with two runs. Bobby Carlson led off the inning with his fourth home run of the season to move into a tie for the team lead. Shawn Wayt and McGuiness got one-out singles to chase Parker in favor of Nick Haughian. Scott Campbell greeted Haughian with a single to center to score Wayt, but McGuinness was thrown out trying to advance to third by UW catcher Lane.

In the seventh the Bulldogs pulled to within 7-6, Darin Holcomb leading off with a double to left center, going to third on a wild pitch and scoring on Zach Woodward's one-out sacrifice fly to center.

Lentz' second homer of the day in the eighth gave Washington a two-run cushion after the Bulldogs got two men on in the top of the inning but had the rally end with an inning-ending double play.

The series concludes Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m. at Husky Ballpark.