Feb. 19, 2011
Box Score (Oregon State)
Box Score (Fresno State)
FRESNO, Calif. - The Gonzaga University baseball team dropped two games in its season-opener Saturday in Fresno, Calif. The Zags (0-2) lost game one to Oregon State University 4-3 in 11 innings and 10-4 to Fresno State University in the nightcap.
Game one starting pitcher Ryan Carpenter finished the day with a no decision after going five innings and allowing three runs on eight hits and he struck out five batters.
Andy Hunter made his first pitching appearance since May 19, 2009. The right-hander pitched five hitless innings of relief with seven strikeouts and three walks against Oregon State.
The Zags got the 2011 season started with a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Third baseman Eric Lane reached on a single and designated hitter Clayton Eslick reached and advanced him and Lane to second and third, respectively, on a throwing error by Beavers shortstop Kavin Keyes. Left fielder Billy Moon brought them home with a one-out single up the middle to give the Zags an early 2-0 lead.
The Beavers cut the Zags lead down to one in the third inning with an RBI single to left field by catcher Andrew Susac. They took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Parker Berberet followed by an RBI single through the left side by third baseman Carter Bell. But Gonzaga answered back with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and pinch runner Payden Cawley Lamb scored the tying run on a passed ball caused by Susac.
Relief pitcher Mark Phillips entered the game still tied 3-3 in the 11th inning in attempt to force the game into the 12th but after loading the bases on a triple and two walks, second baseman Tyler Smith drove in the game-winning run on a single to right field.
Gonzaga got on the board early again in the nightcap game against Fresno State (1-0). Lane led off the game with a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a passed ball. Followed by Moon's walk, catcher Cameron Edman singled through the left side to load the bases. Right fielder Tyler Chism reached on a fielder's choice to second baseman Pat Hutcheson who made a double play to get Edman out at second, Moon at home trying to score from second. Lane made it home before Moon was called out to give the Zags a 1-0 lead.
Freshman Marco Gonzales' collegiate debut as a pitcher got off to a rocky start. The Zags made two errors in the first-three innings and Fresno State scored nine runs off Gonzales, seven in the first inning. But the left-hander settled down after the third inning, going five innings and striking out seven.
Trailing 9-1 in the top of the sixth, the Zags cut the Bulldogs lead down to five. Lane hit a two-run home run and following a walk by pinch hitter Cawley Lamb, designated hitter Maxx Garrett hit an RBI-double to right field to earn his first hit as a Zag.
Relief pitcher Kenny Smith pitched the rest of the game for Gonzales and allowed one run on two hits.
"There were some positive things we saw today but we failed to execute on both defense and offense when we really needed to," Zags head coach Mark Machtolf said.
The Zags conclude the weekend in Fresno Sunday against the Beavers with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
