April 29, 2008
Box Score
Spokane, Wash. - A two-run game winning single by Evan Wells highlighted a six run eighth inning as the Gonzaga University baseball team defeated No. 23 Oregon State University 11-6 Tuesday at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field.
Bulldog (26-18) reliever CJ McClure (4-1) earned the victory for the Zags, as the junior pitched 3.1 innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out five. The two-time defending national champion Beavers (20-15) utilized nine pitchers in the contest, with Taylor Starr (2-1) suffering the loss as the reliever allowed two runs, both unearned, on one hit over 1.1 innings.
Down 6-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth, Gonzaga posted a two-out rally to earn the victory. Ryan Wiegand led off the inning reaching first on an error before advancing to second with a two-out walk to Grant Kveder. Following a double steal with Kveder and pinch runner Michael Rhodes, the Zags loaded the bases with an intentional walk to Drew Heid. Gonzaga knotted the score 6-6 during the next at-bat as pinch hitter Brett Nicholas was hit-by-a-pitch. Wells then stepped in, hitting a single to right to score Kveder and Heid, to give the Bulldogs an 8-6 lead. The next batter, Jason Chatwood, then slapped a single through the leftside, scoring Nicholas, before Marcus McKimmy smashed a double to left center. The double plated Wells and Chatwood, giving Gonzaga an 11-6 lead.
GU took an early lead in the contest, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second. The Zags sent nine batters to the plate in the frame, with Wells and Chatwood recording run-scoring hits. Wells hit a two-run triple that scored Kveder and Wells, before scoring on an infield single by Chatwood.
Oregon State responded with a run in the top of the third as Garrett Nash scored on a ground out by Joey Wong.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third as Bryan Winston hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Kveder, who had reached on a fielding error.
The Beavers began to chip away at GU's lead in the top of the fourth, posting a pair of runs thanks to a two-run home run to left center by Daniel Robertson.
OSU overtook the lead, 5-4, in the top of the sixth with a two-run infield single by pinch hitter John Wallace. The Beavers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, with a one-run double by Drew George.
In the bottom of the seventh, Gonzaga began to catch ground on Oregon State with a one-run single up the middle by Chatwood. Heid, who reached on an infield single, scored on the play.
Chatwood led the Zags at the plate during the contest, going 4-for-6 with three runs batted in and a run scored. Wells, Wiegand and Heid each posted two hits. With his pair of hits, Wells extended his current hit streak to 17 games.
The Bulldogs and Beavers will wrap-up the two-game series Wednesday at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
