April 9, 2009
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University offense backed another dominant performance by senior starting pitcher Matt Fields to post a 14-2 win over #21 University of San Diego in the series-opener Thursday night.
The Zags (22-9, 5-2 WCC) recorded 15 hits and took advantage of three USD (22-12, 6-1 WCC) errors to put up 14 runs on the WCC's first-place team. Fields (5-1), the WCC's reigning Pitcher of the Week, won his fifth consecutive start after holding the conference's leading offense to just two runs and also struck out seven in his 7.2 innings of work.
Gonzaga had nine players score at least one run and eight record at least one hit led by junior centerfielder Drew Heid who finished with four hits and two RBI. Senior lead-off hitter Evan Wells scored three times and senior first baseman Ryan Wiegand drove in a game-high three runs. Weigand's three RBI moved him into a tie for second on Gonzaga's all-time RBI list with Jerrod Wong at 183, just three behind Jeff Hainline's top mark of 186.
The Gonzaga bats got right to work, answering a first-inning USD run with a run of their own in their half of the first. Wells led off the inning with a walk and Heid followed with a hard hit single off the Torero third baseman to put two runners on to start the inning. One batter later, Wiegand lined a one-out single back up the middle to score Wells from second and tie game at 1-1.
USD put up a run in the third inning but the Bulldog offense erupted for six runs in the inning, using six hits and two critical Torero errors to build a 7-2 lead off of USD starting pitcher Kyle Blair. Heid was once again in the middle of the action, starting the rally with a one-out single back up the middle and then moved up to second on Blair's failed pickoff attempt that actually hit Heid and went down the right field line. Junior catcher Tyson Van Winkle then singled to put runners on the corners. Wiegand followed with a chopped ground ball to second baseman Chris Engell who threw on to second in attempt to start a double play but shortstop Sean Nicol could not handle the throw with Van Winkle sliding in, allowing everybody to move up a base including Heid who came across for the first run of the inning. The error opened the door for the Zags to put a big number on the scoreboard.
After senior right fielder Anthony Synegal lined out for the second out of the inning, the next four Zag hitters recorded hits to bring five more runs across. Junior left fielder Mark Castellitto had RBI single to left field. Senior designated hitter Grant Kveder slapped a RBI single through the left side. Senior third baseman Jason Chatwood followed with a lined single to right center and freshman shortstop Ernesto Ortiz capped the scoring with a two-run opposite field double off the right field wall.
The Bulldogs big third inning seemed to put Fields back on track after allowing the early runs as he retired the Toreros in order in fourth and fifth innings and held them scoreless, allowing just five hits before he exited with two outs in the eighth inning.
Gonzaga put the game away with three runs in the sixth inning and four more in the eighth inning. In the sixth, the Bulldogs scored runs on a wild pitch, an RBI double by Synegal and a bases-loaded walk to Chatwood to make it 9-2. Heid highlighted the four-run eighth inning with a two-run chopped single over the third baseman as the Zags went up 14-2.
Blair (3-2) took the loss after allowing seven runs before leaving the game with an arm injury with one out in the fourth inning. USD used five pitchers in the game. Freshman pitcher Andy Hunter threw the final 1.1 innings to seal up the Gonzaga win.
The Zags and Toreros continue their series 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. Friday's game can be heard on 1050 KEYF beginning at 6:15 p.m. while Saturday's series finale can be heard on 1510 KGA starting at 10:45 a.m.
