March 22, 2009
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - Junior starting pitcher Steven Ames picked up his team-best fifth win of the season in Gonzaga University's 5-4 win over the University of the Pacific Sunday. The Bulldogs (14-5) rallied from behind for the second straight day, using a three-run third inning to overcome an early deficit to pick up its eighth consecutive win and second consecutive series sweep.
Junior leftfielder Mark Castellitto drove in two runs for the third consecutive game and freshman shortstop Ernesto Ortiz scored twice after reaching base in all four of his appearances for the Zags. Sunday's victory followed Saturday's five-run ninth-inning comeback win and gave Gonzaga its second series sweep of the season after the Bulldogs took all four matchups with Utah Valley University last weekend.
After Pacific (7-12) brought a run across in the first inning but the Bulldogs answered with one of their own in the second inning. Gonzaga senior designated hitter Anthony Synegal got things going with a one-out single back up the middle and junior left fielder Mark Castellitto followed with a deep drive off of the centerfield fence for a double to set up runners on second and third for senior third baseman Jason Chatwood. He was able to bring Synegal home with a RBI sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game at 1-1.
In the third inning, the Gonzaga offense made its move, scoring three runs in the inning and taking advantage of some wildness by Pacific starting pitcher Hunter Carnevale. Freshman shortstop Ernesto Ortiz led off the inning with a walk, senior second baseman Evan Wells was then hit by the pitch and one batter later, junior catcher Tyson Van Winkle was also hit by the pitch to load the bases. Carnevale got senior first baseman Ryan Wiegand to foul out but Syengal then earned a bases-loaded two-out walk, giving the Zags a 2-1 lead. Castellitto followed with a two-strike line drive base-hit down the left field line, scoring Wells and Van Winkle to make it 4-1.
The Tigers later scored a run in the fourth inning and used a solo homer from Mike Walker in the sixth to cut the Zags lead to 4-3. Gonzaga came right back with a run in their half of the sixth as Wiegand earned a bases-loaded walk to put the Bulldogs back up by two, 5-3.
In the eighth, Pacific again cut into the Gonzaga lead with a two-out solo home run by Joey Centanni off of Gonzaga sophomore reliever Cody Martin making it a 5-4 ball game. Senior A.J. Proszek relieved Martin after the homer and got Ben Gorang to ground out to end the inning.
Proszek closed the game out in the ninth after getting J.B. Brown to fly out to left field with two runners on to end Pacific's hopes of a comeback and post his second save of the series and of the season. Ames benefitted from solid relief outings by Martin and Proszek as his record improved to 5-0 after he finished with six strikeouts and two earned runs in five innings.
Carnevale (1-3) took the loss after allowing all five runs and waling six batters in 5.1 innings.
The Bulldogs will wrap up their nine-game homestand with a two-game midweek series against the University of Utah Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and at Noon Wednesday.
