Feb. 27, 2008
Complete Game Notes and Stats in PDF Format 
Games 5-8
Brigham Young at Gonzaga
Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field (3,000)
Spokane, Wash.
Thursday, Feb. 28, 3 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 29, DH at Noon
Saturday, Mar. 1, 11 a.m.
Series Record: BYU leads 9-8
Exhibition
Gonzaga at Lewis-Clark State
Harris Field (5,000)
Lewiston, Idaho
Sunday, Mar. 2, 2 p.m.
Series Record: LCSC leads 59-58-1
UP TO BAT: The Gonzaga University baseball team will open the home slate of the 2008 season Thursday when it welcomes Brigham Young State University to Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. The four-game series will open Thursday with a 3 p.m. first pitch. Friday the Zags will play their second double-header of the season when the first game starts at Noon. The second game will begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one. The series will wrap-up Saturday at 11 a.m. Please note that previously published schedules reflected game time at 1 p.m. but due to a traveling conflict, the first pitch was changed to 11 a.m. Sunday, the Bulldogs will hit the road again as they travel to Lewiston, Idaho to face defending NAIA national champions Lewis-Clark State College. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be played under NAIA rules and will be an exhibition, meaning that the stats and result will not count for the Bulldogs.
ON DECK: Gonzaga University will play nine games in nine days as the Zags embark on a spring break road trip. The trip will begin with a three-game series in Stockton, Calif. at the University of the Pacific Mar. 8-10 before traveling to the Pepsi Johnny Quick Classic in Fresno, Calif. While at the tournament, the Bulldogs will face Indiana University, the University of Utah, the University of Portland, No. 24 Fresno State University and New Mexico State University. The tournament opens on Mar. 11 and continues through the consolation and championship games on Mar. 15.
LAST OUTING: Last weekend, the Gonzaga University baseball team opened the season dropping four games to then-No. 27 Oklahoma State University. In the season opener on Friday, the Zags dropped a 6-1 decision to the Cowboys. A doubleheader scheduled for Saturday but one game was played as the twin bill was moved to Sunday. Saturday, Gonzaga suffered a 12-2 loss as Oklahoma State posted eight runs in the sixth inning. The Bulldogs then dropped both games of the twin bill Sunday, falling 3-1 in game one and 12-2 in game two. Leading Gonzaga for the week was freshman Brett Nicholas, who hit .333 with four runs batted in.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS: Brigham Young University travels to Spokane after dropping two-of-three games to West Coast Conference foe University of Portland last weekend. In the opening game of the series, BYU posted a 4-1 11-inning victory over Portland before dropping the second and third contests 12-1 and 8-7 (10i), respectively. Kasey Ko led the Cougars in the series, going 3-for-8 with two doubles, two runs scored and a run batted in. Sean McNaughton also hit over .300, batting at a .308 clip with four hits, including a triple. On the mound, the Cougars are led by Blake Torgerson, who has a 0.00 earned run average in two relief appearances. Brigham Young holds the slight 9-8 all-time advantage over Gonzaga University, including taking two-of-three games from the Zags last season in Provo. This week's games in Spokane will be the Cougars' first appearance in Spokane since the Gonzaga Tournament in 1995.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS: Lewis-Clark State College, the two-time defending NAIA National Champion, will travel to the University of Washington Wednesday before welcoming Gonzaga University to Lewiston, Idaho on Sunday. The Warriors maintain a 10-2 record and are led by Paul Martin, who boasts a .483 batting average. In eight games, Martin has recorded 14 hits, including two doubles, five runs scored and team-leading 13 runs batted in. On the mound, LCSC is led by Brad Schwarzenbach who has earned a 1.08 earned run average in three starts. Blaine Hardy and Justin Mace also pace the LCSC bullpen with 0.73 and 0.90 ERA's, respectively. Lewis-Clark has outscored opponents 90-35 this season, including 24-2 in the fifth inning and 18-5 in the opening frame. The Warriors hold a 58-51-1 all-time advantage over the Zags. Last season in Lewiston, the Bulldogs handed Lewis-Clark State its first loss of the season as the Zags up-ended LCSC 4-3 as part of the Banana Belt Baseball Classic.
HOME OPENER: Thursday's home opener against Brigham-Young University at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field will mark the first time since 2002 that Gonzaga University has played home games in Spokane this early in the season. In 2002, the Bulldogs played Whitworth College on Feb. 22 at Avista/A.R.T. Stadium. Last season, Gonzaga opened its home schedule on March 15.
LAST YEAR AGAINST BYU: Last season Gonzaga University and Brigham Young University faced off in a three-game series at BYU. The Cougars took two-of-three from the Zags, despite strong offensive performances by two current and one former GU players. Bryan Winston, Michael Rhodes and current graduate assistant Dustin Colclough all hit over .400. Winston and Colcough hit at a .500 clip in the three-game series, while Rhodes posted a .455 average.
ZAGS, WARRIORS SPLIT 2007 SERIES: Gonzaga University and Lewis-Clark State College battled twice last season, with each team earning a victory. Bryan Winston led the Zags in the two-game series going 5-for-9 with a pair of doubles and two runs batted in. On the mound against the Warriors, Chris Highmark made one appearance allowing one hit over four innings. The Zags defeated LCSC 4-3 in Lewiston before dropping a 11-6 13 inning game in Spokane.
FAMILIAR ENEMY: Chris Highmark will be facing a somewhat familiar opponent this week as Brigham Young University comes to Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. Highmark, who is a reliever for Gonzaga University, transferred to the Zags last season from BYU. During the 2006 season with the Cougars, the native of Scottsdale, Ariz. posted a 6.38 earned run average with a 0-1 record in 14 relief appearances. Last season with the Bulldogs, Highmark made 19 appearances, including eight starts, en route to a 6.03 earned run average.
FIELDS HITS CAREER HIGH: Matt Fields, a starting pitcher for Gonzaga University, posted a career-high seven innings pitched Sunday, Feb. 24, during the first game of a double header with Oklahoma State University. Prior to the game with the Cowboys, Fields' career high was four innings pitched on May 15, 2007 at the University of Washington.
ROOKIES POST STRONG DEBUT: Freshmen Brett Nicholas and Cody Martin made strong debuts for the Gonzaga University baseball team last weekend at Oklahoma State University. Nicholas, the projected starting designated hitter, sat out opening day before going 3-for-9 in the next three games to lead GU with a .333 average on the weekend. Nicholas also drove home four of the Zags' seven runs during the series. Martin made two appearances out of the Bulldogs' bullpen, surrendering no runs over 3.0 innings on one-hit ball. Freshman pitchers Jake Adkins and Reedy Berg also made their Gonzaga debut last weekend.
NEWCOMERS SEE TIME IN THE STARTING LINE-UP: The Gonzaga University starting line-up has been loaded with newcomers to the Zags' program this season, as six different newcomers have earned at least one start in 2008. Transfers Marcus McKimmy, Jason Chatwood, Anthony Synegal, Drew Heid and Grant Kveder as well as freshman Brett Nicholas have all seen time as a starter this season. McKimmy, a senior transfer from San Jose State University, and junior college transfers Chatwood, Heid and Synegal have started all four games, while Nicholas has earned a trio of starting nods. Kveder has started two of the Bulldogs' four games to date.
HARMON MOVES UP IN RECORD BOOK: Senior pitcher Brandon Harmon has moved into sole possession of fourth place in the Gonzaga University record book for career appearances. Harmon, who started against Oklahoma State University on Feb. 22, was tied for fourth with Craig Miller (1979-82) with 67 appearances to start the season. Harmon is now two appearances short of tying Billy Walker (1987-90) for third place with 70. The all-time GU appearance leader is Matt Siwek (1996-00) with 81 appearances.
MARCH MADNESS: The month of March is scheduled to be a long one for the Gonzaga University baseball team. The Zags are slated to play 22 games in the month, allowing for only eight days without any competitions. Highlighting the busy month will be a nine-game road trip to the University of the Pacific and the Pepsi Johnny Quick Classic in Fresno, Calif. The Bulldogs will wrap up the month opening West Coast Conference play with a three-game home series against No. 29 Pepperdine University.
DOUBLE TAKE: When you look down into the Gonzaga University bullpen this season, don't take a double take, there are two Zag's who look alike - twins Kyle and Jake Adkins. The Adkins brothers join the Bulldogs from Walnut Creek, Calif., where they both played at Los Lomas High. As a junior, Jake earned first-team All-Valley conference with a 0.86 earned run average in 20 innings with 25 strikeouts before falling victim to an injury as a senior. Kyle was a two-time All-Valley Conference selection as he earned three varsity letters in baseball.
IMPROVEMENTS TO PATTERSON BASEBALL COMPLEX AND WASHINGTON TRUST FIELD: Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field boasts a new and improved look down the right field line this season. During the off-season, construction was completed on a new maintenance facility in the right field corner near the batting cages. The "maintenance mansion" houses the Gonzaga University athletic department's grounds keeping efforts. Last season, a temporary shed was utilized until construction could commence on the new building.
LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University home games, as well as select away games, will be available via Gametracker on the internet at http://www.gozags.com. Check the Gonzaga web site for all Gametracker and live stats links.
ZAGS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH: The Gonzaga University baseball team has been selected to finish fifth in the 2008 West Coast Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches. Reigning WCC Champion, University of San Diego, received seven first place votes and a total of 49 points to edge out the Pepperdine University, 42 points, and Santa Clara University for first place. The Broncos also received one first place vote and 32 total points. Loyola Marymount University checked in at fourth with 29 points, just edging out the Zags, who received 28 points. The University of San Francisco was tabbed for a sixth place finish with 24 points, while University of Portland and the Saint Mary's College were picked to finish seventh and eighth with 12 and eight points, respectively.
WAYT, WIEGAND EARN RIVALS.COM PRESEASON ACCOLADES: Gonzaga University's Shawn Wayt and Ryan Wiegand were both named Preseason All-West Coast Conference selections by Rivals.com. The All-WCC preseason team featured 13-members with the University of San Diego earning the most selections with four. In 2007, Wayt hit .341 with 44 hits and 22 runs batted in, while Wiegand batted .338 with six home runs and 45 RBIs. Both Zags were awarded unanimous all-league honors last season for their efforts during conference play.
BULLDOGS EXCEL IN CLASSROOM: Two members, including one current member, of the Gonzaga University baseball team were awarded All-West Coast Conference academic accolades last season. Former Bulldog Aaron McGuinness and current second baseman Evan Wells each earned the distinction. McGuinness earned a 3.48 grade point average in exercise science while Wells posted a 3.95 GPA in journalism, which also placed him on the University's president's list.
BULLDOGS POST HIGHEST FINISH IN WCC PLAY: By posting victories over then-No. 17 Pepperdine University on May 11 and 12, 2007, the Gonzaga University baseball team locked up its highest finish in WCC history, securing second place. Gonzaga had never finished higher than fifth when the conference played a non-divisional format. The Bulldogs finished fifth in 1996 and finished the 2006 campaign tied for fifth. The WCC played a non-divisional format Gonzaga's first three years in the conference (1996-98) and then went to the divisional format from 1999-05 before returning to non-divisional play last season.
ZAGS RAKE IN LEAGUE HONORS: Former Gonzaga University standout Clayton Mortensen headlined eight All-West Coast Conference accolades during the 2007 season. Mortensen was named the conference's Pitcher of the Year as well as an unanimous All-WCC selection. Joining Mortensen as unanimous all-conference selections were current Zags' Shawn Wayt and Ryan Wiegand. Former Bulldog Darin Holcomb was named All-WCC, while current sophomore Jeremy Stumetz was named to the All-Freshman team. Former Bulldogs Aaron McGuinness, Mike Terry and current GU hurler Brandon Harmon were awarded honorable mention accolades.
HEAD COACH Mark Machtolf: Mark Machtolf is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Gonzaga University baseball and 17th season as a member of the Bulldogs' coaching staff. Since being named head coach, Machtolf has posted a 114-106 record for a .518 winning percentage, placing him third all-time in Gonzaga history. During his tenure with the Zags', he has led the Zags to four-top five finishes and produced the 2004 WCC Player of the Year, Kiel Thibault, and the 2007 WCC Pitcher of the Year, Clayton Mortensen. He has overseen 33 Zags who have signed professional contracts, including 22 that were drafted into the Major Leagues. Under his guidance, Gonzaga has also landed 69 all-conference selections in addition to 15 All-WCC Academic honors. During the summer of 2006, Machtolf served as an assistant coach for Team USA. Under his guidance, the team posted a 28-2-1 record, including going a perfect at 8-0 record the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World Championships in Havanna, Cuba. A 1987 graduate of Stanford University, Machtolf was a member of the Cardinal's 1987 College World Series championship team and was an All-CWS selection.
