April 5, 2008
Final Stats
San Diego, Calif. - Despite a 4-for-4 performance by Evan Wells, the Gonzaga University baseball team dropped a 7-4 West Coast Conference decision to No. 17 University of San Diego Saturday at Cunningham Stadium in San Diego. Home runs proved to be the difference in the contest, as the Toreros hit four, accounting for five of USD's seven runs.
GU (16-13, 1-3 WCC) starter Matt Fields (4-2) suffered the loss as the junior allowed six runs on 10 hits while striking out six over 6.0 innings of work. CJ McClure threw two innings of relief for the Zags, allowing one run on two hits. San Diego (21-11, 3-2 WCC) starting pitcher Josh Romanski (5-0) earned the victory, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out three over 5.1 frames. AJ Griffin was awarded his fifth save of the season, throwing 1.1 innings of no-hit ball.
The score went back and forth all afternoon, as San Diego responded to each Gonzaga run scored in each inning. In the first frame, the Bulldogs got on the board early as Ryan Wiegand hit into an error that plated Wells, who led off the contest with a single up the middle. In the bottom of the inning, James Meador drove in USD's first run with a double to right center that scored Kevin Muno.
In the second, Gonzaga regained the lead for half an inning, as Jason Chatwood hit a sacrifice fly that plated Grant Kveder. The Toreros answered in the bottom half of the frame, tying the game 2-2 with a run-scoring hit by Jose Valerio.
The Bulldogs scored a run in the top of the third, only to, once again, have San Diego answer with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning. The Gonzaga run was plated on a sacrifice by Wells. USD plated its inning run with a solo home run by Logan Gelbrich.
Once again, in the fifth, Gonzaga took a one run lead as Wiegand, who led off the inning with a triple but scored on an USD fielding error. Unlike previous innings, San Diego scored in the bottom of the inning, only this time scoring two runs to take the lead. Both runs of the inning came on a two run shot by Meador.
The Toreros went onto score runs in the sixth and eighth innings. In the sixth, Valerio hit USD's third home run of the game to extend the lead to 6-4. In the eighth, Gelbrich launched his second home run of the game and third of the series, with a solo shot to left center.
In addition to Wells, Bryan Winston posted multiple hits on the afternoon with a pair of singles. Winston also scored two runs. Wells ended the afternoon with four singles, a RBI and one run scored.
The Bulldogs will try to avoid the sweep Sunday, as they wrap-up the three-game series with the Toreros at 1 p.m.
