March 24, 2009
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University had its eight-game winning streak snapped after dropping a non-conference game to the University of Utah 16-9 at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field Tuesday night.
Junior centerfielder Drew Heid finished with four hits and three RBI while senior second baseman Evan Wells picked up two hits, drove in a run and scored four times for the Bulldogs (14-6). The two teams combined to score 25 runs, record 33 hits, 16 walks and commit seven errors while a total of nine pitchers were used in a game that lasted four hours and 16 minutes including a 19 minute rain delay.
The Utes (9-11) were the first to get on the board scoring two runs in the second after receiving a little help from mother nature. With one out and a runner on first, Utah hitter Kyle Myers popped a ball up to left field but none of the Gonzaga fielders could follow the ball in the dark and rainy sky and the ball eventually landed in shallow left field resulting in Utah runners on second and third. Following the game was halted to due to rain. After a 19 minute delay Utah's Kevin Hussey doubled to deep left center, bringing both runs home for the early lead.
The Bulldogs came up with one run in the third as junior catcher Tyson Van Winkle doubled home Wells to make 2-1.
Utah's bats heated up and the Gonzaga defense had a couple miscues in the field to allow the Utes to score nine runs over the next three innings off of three Bulldog pitchers to build up an 11-2 lead.
The Zags made a run at a comeback with two runs in the sixth, three in the seventh and two more in the eighth to cut the Utah lead to 14-9 but Ute reliever Greg Krause was able to strike out Van Winkle after the Zags had loaded the bases to end further damage.
Gonzaga sophomore starting pitcher Reedy Berg (0-2) took the loss after allowing four earned runs on nine hits but did finish with a career-high seven strikeouts in four innings. Utah starter Bryn Card (2-1) earned the win after allowing four earned runs over 5.1 innings.
The Bulldogs will wrap up their season-long nine-game homestand against Utah Wednesday at Noon.
