March 11, 2008
Box Score
FRESNO, Calif. - Gonzaga scored six runs in the first three innings, and weathered the University of Utah's rally in capturing the 10-5 win here on the second day of the Pepsi Johnny Quick Tournament, 10-5.
The Utes (4-8 overall) edged Gonzaga (8-5) in hits, 10-9, and Michael Beltran and Dustin Hennis led Utah with 2-for-4 outings. However, Devin Walker accounted for four runs with three RBI and a run scored. He was 1-for-4 at the plate. The Bulldogs' final three batters had five of the team's nine hits. They were led by Michael Rhodes and Brett Nicholas. Rhodes was 2-for-4 with three RBI while Nicholas was 2-for-2 with one run batted in.
Utah pitchers recorded two wild pitches, five hit batsmen, and five walks, leading to too many Gonzaga runs for Utah to counter. And by the time Utah rallied, it was down 6-1.
A sacrifice fly by Ryan Wiegand plated GU's first run in the first inning. It doubled its lead on the very next batter when Jason Chatwood scored on wild pitch. Another two runs came Gonzaga's way when Rhodes belted a two-run homer in the second inning. It scored Nicholas who led the inning off with a single.
Gonzaga hung two more tallies on the scoreboard in the third inning, chasing Utah starter Bryn Card (0-1) from the game. Card hit Marcus McImmy, and then surrendered another two-run homer, this time to Wiegand.
Card left the game having given up eight hits and six earned runs. He did fan two GU batters, not giving up a single walk.
Utah scored in the fifth and sixth innings. Cody Guymon got Utah on the board in the fifth. His shot to the shortstop was too much to handle, and the fielding error allowed DC Legg to score.
The Utes scored four in the sixth, trimming the 7-1 lead to 7-5. It led the sixth frame off with three-straight singles. Walker hit a base-clearing double to make it 7-4. Corey Shimada reached on a fielder's choice later in the inning, scoring Walker.
But, Gonzaga tallied three more run in the bottom of the sixth to put it away.
Reedy Berg hurled the Bulldogs to victory, improving the 1-0 on the year. He got the win in relief, pitching for two innings and allowing only two hits.
