March 25, 2009
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University got back to its winning ways with a 3-2 victory over the University of Utah at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field Wednesday afternoon.
Senior right fielder Anthony Synegal went 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI for the Zags (15-6) who rebounded from a loss to the Utes (9-12) Tuesday night. Senior second baseman Evan Wells added two hits and stole is team-leading seventh base of the season.
Both teams were held scoreless for the first four innings until Utah's Kevin Hussey homered to right field with one runner on and one out in fifth to make it 2-0. Bulldog freshman starting pitcher Tyler Olson was very effective in his first collegiate start, holding the Ute offense to just the two earned runs after they scored 16 runs on 21 hits the night before. Olson received a no-decision but did post career-highs with six strikeouts and 5.1 innings.
Utah starting pitcher Joe Pond was just as effective, holding the Bulldog lineup in check in the first five frames until the Zags finally got some swings in the sixth. Wells led off the inning with an infield single after Pond had tried to bare hand Wells' hit back up the middle but the ball glanced off his hand and allowed Wells to reach safely. Junior centerfielder Drew Heid followed with a looping single back up the middle to put runners on first and second. Pond was able to get junior catcher Tyson Van Winkle and senior first baseman Ryan Wiegand to pop up for the first and second outs of the inning. With two outs and runners still on first and second, Synegal then stepped up to plate line and singled through the right side of the infield for an RBI base-hit to make 2-1. Junior left fielder Mark Castellitto then walked to load the bases for senior designated hitter Grant Kveder who also walked to bring Heid across and make it a 2-2 game. Utah reliever Bennett Askew took over for Pond and got senior third baseman Jason Chatwood to pop out to end Gonzaga's chance at taking the lead.
Bulldog relievers Andy Hunter and Andrew Danner combined to hold the Utes scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings before the Zags were able to push across the eventual winning run in the eighth inning. Wiegand earned a one-out walk and Synegal followed with a two-strike double high off the right centerfield wall to put runners on second and third. Castellitto was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a potential force play. After a Kveder strikeout, Chatwood was hit by the pitch in the left shoulder, allowing Wiegand to trot home and give the Zags a 3-2 lead.
Sophomore reliever Cody Martin, who had entered the game with one out and one on in eighth and struck out the final two hitters of the inning, shut the Utes down in the ninth to seal up the Bulldog 3-2 victory. Martin (2-1) earned the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief and also finished with three strikeouts. Askew (0-2) took the loss after allowing the run in eighth.
The Bulldogs posted an 8-1 record in their season-long nine-game homestand and will now play the next eight on the road beginning with their West Coast Conference opening series at the University of San Francisco this weekend. Game times are set for 3 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
