March 27, 2009
Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Gonzaga University picked up a 10-2 win over the University of San Francisco in its West Coast Conference opener at San Francisco, Calif. Friday afternoon.
Freshman right fielder Royce Bolinger recorded three hits and drove in three runs for the Zags who improve to 16-6 overall and 1-0 in the WCC with the win. Senior designated hitter Anthony Synegal and junior left fielder Mark Castellitto each hit home runs and finished with three RBI.
The Bulldogs capitalized on some early inning wildness by USF (10-15, 0-1 WCC) starting pitcher Matt Lujan as he hit two batters, walked two more and had his defense commit an error in the Zags five-run first inning. After juniors Drew Heid and Tyson Van Winkle each reached base on a hit-by-pitch and a walk, senior first baseman Ryan Wiegand lined a single to right centerfield to load the bases. Synegal was then hit by the pitch to bring Heid home for the first run of the inning. Castellitto, the reigning WCC Player of the Week, then reached on an error, scoring Van Winkle to make it 2-0. Wiegand later came home as the next batter, senior third baseman Jason Chatwood reached on fielder's choice. Bolinger capped the Bulldog scoring with two-out two-run double, bringing Synegal and Chatwood around for a 5-0 GU lead.
The Zags added another run in the second as Synegal's base-hit back up the middle scored Wiegand who had walked and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Synegal again added to the Bulldogs lead in the fifth with his first career homer, a solo blast to centerfield to make 7-1. Bolinger was at it again in the seventh inning, lining a single to center to bring Castellitto around for his third RBI of the ball game.
That was more than enough run support for Gonzaga ace senior starting pitcher Matt Fields who retired eight of the first 10 batters he faced and only allowed RBI singles in the fourth and seventh innings. Fields (3-1) struck out five and allowed two earned runs in seven innings.
Castellitto added some breathing room with his team-leading fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the ninth. Sophomore reliever Reedy Berg fired scoreless eighth and ninth innings to seal up the 10-1 for the Zags.
The Bulldogs continue their series with USF 1 p.m. Saturday.
