March 30, 2008

Box Score

Spokane, Wash. - A pair of Pepperdine University pitchers combined to shutout the Gonzaga University baseball team 10-0 Sunday during the Zags' opening game of West Coast Conference play. The series was originally schedule to open Friday but due to inclement weather, the series was shortened to two games, with Sunday's game acting as the series opener.

The Waves' (16-7) Nathan Newman (4-2) and Nick Gaudi combined for the shutout with Newman leading the duo. Newman earned the start, allowing no runs on four hits while striking out four over 7.1 frames. Gaudi threw 1.2 innings of perfect relief to earn his eighth save of the season. Brandon Harmon (2-3) earned the start for Gonzaga (15-11), as the senior went 7.1 frames, allowing three runs on nine hits with two strikeouts.

Pepperdine opened scoring in the fourth inning as Eric Thames hit his first of two home runs on the evening. His first long ball was a solo shot over the right field wall to give the Waves a slight 1-0 edge.

The Waves extended their lead in the fifth to 2-0 thanks to a run-scoring single by David Harris.

Thames added his second home run in the eighth, again, as a solo shot to right to extend Pepperdine's lead to 3-0.

Pepperdine exploded for seven runs in the top of the ninth to break loose the score. Of the seven runs scored, only one was earned due to a passed ball and two Bulldog fielding -errors. Highlighting the inning was a three-run home run by Ryan Heroy.

The Bulldogs recorded only four hits on the night as Marcus McKimmy, Ryan Wiegand, Mark Castellitto and Drew Heid each recorded singles. The Zags left seven runners on base while also falling victim to three double plays.

Monday, Gonzaga and Pepperdine will wrap-up the series with a game at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. Matt Fields is expected to get the start for GU at Noon.