March 20, 2009
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - Juniors Mark Castellitto and Tyson Van Winkle each collected three hits for Gonzaga University in the Bulldogs 8-3 win over the University of Pacific in the series opener at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field Friday night.
Castellitto went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored and Van Winkle also finished 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI for the Zags (12-5) who recorded their sixth straight win. Redshirt freshman right fielder Chris Sturdivant added two hits, two RBI and a stolen base in the series-opener against the Tigers (7-10).
The Zags jumped on Pacific starter Joey Centanni for three runs in the first inning. Senior second baseman Evan Wells led off the Bulldog half of the first with a base-hit back up the middle. A batter later Van Winkle lined a single to left to put runners on first and second for the Bulldogs. After senior first baseman Ryan Wiegand flew out to center, senior designated hitter Anthony Synegal was then hit by the pitch to load the bases for Castellitto. Castellitto promptly singled through the right side of the infield, scoring Wells and Van Winkle for the 2-0 lead. Gonzaga picked up another run as the next batter, senior third baseman Jason Chatwood singled home Synegal to make it 3-0 Bulldogs.
Pacific cut the Gonzaga lead to 3-2 in the third inning as the Tigers used two hits and one Bulldog error to bring two unearned runs across.
In the fourth, the Zags offensive pressure finally got to Pacific as an RBI single by redshirt freshman right fielder Chris Sturdivant made 4-2 Gonzaga. Another Bulldog run came across later in the inning on junior centerfielder Drew Heid's RBI fielder's choice that made it a 5-2 ball game after four complete innings.
Gonzaga added run in the fifth on Sturdivant's second hit of the day, a two-out RBI double down the left field line, scoring Castellitto from second to make it 6-2 Zags.
Pacific put together a rally in the sixth but Bulldog senior reliever A.J. Proszek held the Tigers to just one run after they had loaded the bases with one out. Proszek relieved senior starter Matt Fields after Fields left the game after loading the bases in the sixth and got two Tigers to fly out to hold to them to just one run in the inning.
The GU offense answered right back with a run of their own on a Van Winkle double in the sixth inning and Van Winkle later added another run on a Van Winkle RBI single in the seventh to make it 8-3.
Proszek retired 11 of the 12 Pacific hitters he faced, including the first 10, to preserve the 8-3 win for the Zags. Prosezk fired 3.2 scoreless-innings to pick up his first career save. Fields (2-1) struck out four and allowed just one earned run in 5.1 innings to earn the victory in his second consecutive start.
Centanni (2-2) took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned on nine hits in 4.1 innings. Third baseman Mike Walker finished with three hits for the Tigers.
The Bulldogs continue their series with the Tigers 1 p.m. Saturday.
