March 1, 2008
Box Score
Spokane, Wash. - The Gonzaga University baseball team was unable to complete a four-game sweep of visiting Brigham Young University Saturday as the Zags fell 13-9 in the series finale at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field.
Gonzaga (3-5) reliever Chris Highmark (0-1), who transferred from BYU (2-5) to GU in 2007, suffered the loss after allowing five runs on six hits during 2.1 innings of relief. Jared Miller (1-0) came out of the Cougars' pen to earn the victory as he pitched only 0.2 innings.
The Zags jumped out to a fast start, taking a 3-0 lead in the second frame. Jason Chatwood, who hit at a .444 clip during the series, drove home all three runs on a bases clearing two out triple to right field.
BYU responded with four tallies in the third with solo home runs by Dan Vargas and Steve Parker. Bryce Ayoso drove in the final two runs of the frame with a double to right. Gonzaga tied the contest in the bottom of the frame thanks to a single by Grant Kveder that scored Ryan Wiegand, who had doubled to lead off the inning.
Nine batters stepped to the plate for GU in the bottom of the fifth, as the Zags posted four runs to take an 8-4 lead. All four runs in the frame were unearned as, with two outs, the Cougars' shortstop committed three errors. One error resulted in a run scored by Brett Nicholas, while Evan Wells and Chatwood each posted run scoring singles up the middle.
Brigham Young narrowed the lead with a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Kent Walton before taking the lead for good in the eighth inning. The Cougars' four-run eighth frame was highlighted by a three-run run home by Parker, his second long ball of the afternoon.
BYU extended its lead in the ninth inning with four additional runs. Once again, the inning was highlighted with three-run home run, this time by Kasey Ko.
Gonzaga tried to rally in the top of the ninth, but were only able to plate one run thanks to a Chatwood sacrifice fly that scored Bryan Winston.
Four Bulldogs hit over .400 in the series, including three players who hit .500 or better. Winston led GU for the weekend with a .538 average, going 7-for-13 with two doubles, a home run, seven runs scored and seven RBIs.
Gonzaga will return to the field Sunday as it travels to Lewiston, Idaho for an exhibition contest with NAIA defending national champion Lewis-Clark State College. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. The Zags then open a nine-game spring break road trip on March 7 with a three-game series at the University of the Pacific.
