March 18, 2008
Box Score
Spokane, Wash. - Chris Highmark pitched four innings of shutout relief but it wasn't enough as the Gonzaga University baseball team fell behind early in a 5-3 loss to Utah Valley University Tuesday at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field.
Highmark pitched 4.0 innings of relief for Gonzaga (11-8), as the junior allowed two hits while striking out three. Reedy Berg (1-1) earned the loss for the Zags as the freshman allowed five runs, four earned, on four hits over the opening 5.0 frames. Utah Valley (4-11-1) starter Marcus Moore (2-3) earned the victory after throwing a complete game. Moore allowed three runs on seven hits while fanning nine Bulldog batters.
The Wolverines opened the contest by taking an early lead, scoring three runs before an out could be recorded. Following a fielding error and a walk, Jace Brinkerhoff smashed a home run over the left field wall, providing Utah Valley with a 3-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs began to chip away at the Wolverines' lead in the first inning, as Ryan Wiegand recorded a run-scoring double to left center that scored Jason Chatwood.
The score remained unchanged until the third inning, when Utah Valley posted its two other runs of the evening. Scott Crowshaw scored the first run on a wild pitch before Ryan Jones was plated on a sacrifice fly by Adam Openshaw.
Gonzaga added a run in the bottom of the third when, with the bases loaded, Grant Kveder was hit-by-a-pitch that plated Chatwood.
Drew Heid scored GU's final run of the evening thanks to a one-run single through the right side by Wiegand.
Offensively, Wiegand paced the Zags' line-up, going 3-for-5 with two runs batted in. Chatwood was the only other Bulldog with multiple hits as the junior went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
The rubber game of the three-game series between Utah Valley and Gonzaga will be played Wednesday at 6 p.m. CJ McClure is expected to get the start for the Bulldogs in the series finale.
