Gonzaga University
Utah Valley
Offense Stays Hot But Bulldogs Drop Slugfest To Utah Valley
3/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 26, 2010
OREM, Utah. - Gonzaga University and Utah Valley University combined to use eight pitchers, score 38 runs, record 44 hits and commit seven errors in a cold, windy and rainy game that saw the Bulldogs fall 21-17 Friday night.
A day after putting up 23 runs, the Zags (9-13) offense continued to produce, using 22 hits to put up the 17 runs but it was the five errors in first two innings that did in the Bulldogs. Mark Castellitto again led the way with a four-hit game as Royce Bolinger, Clayton Eslick, Sean Wilson and each posted three-hit games. Bolinger also homered, scored four times and drove in three as all nine Gonzaga starters recorded at least one hit.
Things looked to be off to a good start as the Zags opened the game with three first-inning runs after Eslick earned a bases-loaded walk and Cameron Edman drove in two runs with a two-out two-run single up the middle. But it all went sour for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the inning as Utah Valley took advantage of some sloppy play by the Gonzaga defense. The Wolverines used five hits and three GU errors to push eight runs, just two earned, across against Gonzaga starting pitcher Ryan Carpenter.
UVU (7-9) followed the big first inning by putting up four runs in the second, one in the third, three in the fourth and one more in the fifth inning. Gonzaga eventually cut into the Wolverine lead with consecutive four-run frames in the in fourth and fifth innings to make it a 17-11 game after five.
The Bulldogs continued to close the gap in the seventh inning, pushing three runs across to make it a 17-14 heading into the bottom of the seventh. All the comeback effort was for not as Utah Valley answered right back with another crooked number, scoring four in the seventh to open their lead back up to 21-14 through seven complete.
The ninth inning saw the Zags continue to compete, stringing together a couple of nice at-bats to push three runs across all with two outs. With two outs, Gonzaga had five players each record singles, leading to the three runs but UVU called in its four pitcher of the day who got a game-ending pop up.
Gonzaga and Utah Valley wrap up their three-game series tomorrow at noon.
