Feb. 21, 2009

Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Gonzaga University picked up a 9-3 win over 10th ranked University of Missouri in its first of two games at the Grand Canyon Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. Saturday.

The Zags (1-1) banged out 10 hits against preseason 10th ranked Missouri (1-1) in their first game of day in support of sophomore starting pitcher Cody Martin who allowed just one earned run and struck out six in seven innings to pick up the win. Offensively the Bulldogs had junior catcher Tyson Van Winkle produce a 3-for-4 effort, freshman shortstop Ernesto Ortiz each score twice and also drive in two and junior centerfielder Drew Heid hit his first home run of the season.

Heid gave Gonzaga an early lead with a two-out solo homer in the first inning and freshman right fielder Royce Bolinger put the Zags up 2-0 with an RBI groundout in the second.

The Bulldogs erupted in the fifth, scoring five runs on five hits in the inning to open up a 7-0 lead on the Tigers. Ortiz highlighted the inning with a two-run triple and then came home on senior second baseman Evan Wells' sacrifice fly. Senior first baseman Ryan Wiegand and Van Winkle finished off the scoring with back-to-back RBI hits.

A two-run single by senior third baseman Jason Chatwood in the sixth capped the Bulldog scoring for the day.

Martin (1-0) pitched well in his first start of the season, retiring the lead-off hitter in five of his seven innings and didn't allow a hit until the fourth. Junior reliever Jeremy Stumetz pitched the final two innings to seal the win for the Zags.

Gonzaga will play the University of Nevada at 6 p.m. Saturday night before closing out the first weekend of the season with another matchup against #10 Missouri at 1 p.m. Sunday.