March 21, 2009

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Mark Castellitto's walk-off RBI single capped a five-run ninth inning for Gonzaga University as the Bulldogs beat the University of Pacific 9-8 at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field Saturday afternoon.

Gonzaga improved its record to 13-5 after rallying from an 8-3 deficit with six runs in the final two innings to beat the Tigers (7-11) for the second consecutive day. The Bulldogs recorded 17 hits, six coming in the ninth inning, led by senior second baseman Evan Wells and redshirt freshman right fielder Chris Sturdivant who each finished with three hits.

Down 8-3 to start the eighth inning, the Zags continued to battle, putting together tough at-bats off of Pacific starting pitcher Cole Akins. Akins had held the Bulldogs' potent lineup in check throughout the afternoon but the GU bats came alive in the later innings. Senior first baseman Ryan Wiegand's one-out double in the eighth seemed to ignite the offense. One batter after Wiegand's double, Castellitto muscled a single back up the middle to score Wiegand to make it 8-4.

In the ninth, the Bulldog offense caught fire, sending eight men to the plate, recording six hits and scoring five runs to clinch their seventh consecutive victory. Sturdivant led off the inning with a single to right, one batter later Wells singled with one out through the right side and junior centerfielder Drew Heid singled to left to bring home the first run of the inning. Junior catcher Tyson Van Winkle then doubled down the left field line to score Wells and cut the Tigers lead to 8-6. Wiegand, the potential go-ahead run at the time was then intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a force play. Pacific's strategy backfired though as senior designated hitter Anthony Synegal followed with a line drive single to right centerfield, scoring Heid and Van Winkle and tying the ball game at 8-8. The next batter was Castellitto who drove in two runs and had three hits in Friday night's win. Senior pinch runner Grant Kveder entered the game to run for Wiegand at second. Castellitto lined the first pitch he saw just over Pacific's leaping shortstop and into the left center gap allowing Kveder came around for the game-winner.

Pacific had built an 8-3 lead after scoring seven runs in the sixth inning. The Tigers used two GU errors and six hits off of four Gonzaga pitchers to score the runs. The Tiger offense took advantage of some sloppy GU defense in the inning as Bulldog freshman starting pitcher Ryan Carpenter struggled to finish off Tiger hitters once getting ahead in the count but did manage to limit the damage and keep the Zags in the game.

Tigers' starting pitcher Cole Akins was impressive throughout the day. After retiring the Bulldogs in order the first three innings, the Zags were able to get some swings the second time through the lineup. Wells led off the fourth inning with a line drive base-hit to right field and later advanced to second on Heid's fly ball to deep right center. With Wells still on second Van Winkle laced a double just inside the third base bag and down the left field line to score Wells and tie the game at 1-1. Synegal later came through with a two-out RBI single through the left side, scoring Van Winkle to give the Bulldogs the lead 2-1.

The Gonzaga offense was able to get a couple more swings off of Akins in the fifth as Chatwood led off the inning with a double that short hopped the left field fence. Sturdivant followed with a base-hit to put runners on first and third for freshman shortstop Ernesto Ortiz who then made it a 3-1 ball game with sacrifice fly to right center, scoring Chatwood.

Lost in the ninth-inning drama was the impressive relief appearance by freshman Andy Hunter (1-0). He allowed just one hit in his three innings of work and went on to pick up the first win of his career. For Pacific, Akins allowed four earned runs and struck out five over eight innings. UP reliever Thomas Berolzheimer (0-2) took the loss after allowing all five runs on six hits in the final frame.

Seven Bulldogs recorded at least two hits and Synegal drove in a game-high three runs.

Junior Steven Ames will take the mound for Gonzaga in the final game of the weekend series with Pacific at noon Sunday.