March 9, 2008

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Ryan Wiegand recorded four multiple-base hits to drive in six runs ast the Gonzaga University baseball team posted a 16-7 victory over the University of the Pacific Sunday at Klein Family Field in Stockton, Calif.. The win provided the Zags with a series sweep of the Tigers as Gonzaga had won the first two games of the three-game series.

Wiegand posted a big weekend for the Bulldogs (6-5), as the junior hit at a .467 clip going 7-for-15 with three doubles, a triple and two home runs. Wiegand also led the Zags with 10 runs batted in during the series. In total, the entire Zag roster enjoyed a strong weekend at the plate as seven Bulldogs hit over .300 including Marcus McKimmy who hit .583 for the weekend.

Cory Powell (2-1) earned the victory Sunday as the senior held the Tigers (2-10) to four runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings. CJ McClure and Jake Adkins saw time out of pen for GU, highlighted by two-innings of perfect ball by McClure. Pacific's Cory Kohnke (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits over the opening two frames.

The Bulldogs scored in every inning, except the fifth frame. In the first, GU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on run-scoring hits by McKimmy, Brett Nicholas and Grant Kveder. Gonzaga doubled its run total to six in the second inning with a three-run home run to right field by Wiegand.

In the third, Kveder added another run as the junior doubled down the right field line to scored Mark Castellitto, who had recorded a double to left field. Castellitto would finish the afternoon going 3-for-5 with a double and a triple.

Gonzaga posted two more runs in the fourth to extend its lead to 9-0, as Nicholas recorded his first home run of his collegiate career - a two-run shot that scored McKimmy. McKimmy led GU for runs scored on the afternoon with five.

The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with four runs. Sending 10 batters to the plate, Pacific scored its four runs on six hits, including a two-run double to left center by John Joines.

In the sixth, GU added another run when McKimmy scored on Wiegand's second double of the afternoon. Wiegand drove home two more in the seventh as the Bulldogs scored three runs. The first run of the frame was scored by Jason Chatwood on a one-run single by McKimmy.

Evan Wells drove home the lone run of the eighth inning as the junior drew a bases loaded walk to score Bryan Winston. GU added two more runs in the ninth as pinch hitter Shawn Wayt scored on an error and Brandon Blank was plated on a single by Anthony Synegal.

Pacific added three runs in the bottom of the ninth to narrow the score to 16-7. Joe Oliveira, J.B. Brown and Joines scored runs thanks to a two-run double by Adam Ching and a ground out by Kurt Wiedman.

Gonzaga will return to the field Monday as it opens the 2008 Pepsi/Johnny Quick Classic in Fresno, Calif. The Zags will play six games in the next days as they wrap-up a nine-game spring break trip. A.J. Proszek is expected to get the starting nod for GU on Monday as the open the tournament against Indiana University at 10 a.m.