April 14, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format
Game 31: April 15 - at Loyola Marymount - George C. Page Stadium - Los Angeles, Calif. - 3 p.m.
Game 32: April 16 - at Loyola Marymount - George C. Page Stadium - Los Angeles, Calif. - 1 p.m.
Game 33: April 17 - at Loyola Marymount - George C. Page Stadium - Los Angeles, Calif. - 1 p.m.
All Times Pacific Time Zone and Subject to Change
Gametracker Available
*No. 24 Gonzaga University Bulldogs (19-10-1, 3-0 West Coast)
Probable Rotation
LHP - 22 Ryan Carpenter, 6-5, 225, Jr., Peoria, AZ
(4-1, 3.08 ERA, 49.2 IP, 58 K)
LHP - 13 Tyler Olson, 6-3, 180, Jr., Spokane, WA
(5-1, 1.25 ERA, 43.1 IP, 42 K)
LHP - 7 Marco Gonzales, 6-1, 185, Fr., Fort Collins, CO
(5-2, 2.59 ERA, 55.2 IP, 43 K)
Head Coach: Mark Machtolf (Stanford University, 1987)
Gonzaga Record: 219-189-1 (8 years - 22 at GU) Career Record: Same
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Loyola Marymount University Lions (19-12, 3-0 West Coast)
All-time series versus Gonzaga: LMU leads 31-26
Probable Rotation
LHP - 21 Jason Wheeler, 6-6, 255, Jr., Torrance, CA
(4-1, 3.04 ERA, 50.1 IP, 40 K)
RHP - 12 Alex Gillingham, 6-3, 200, Jr., Thousand Oaks, CA
(5-2, 2.21 ERA, 57.0 IP, 41 K)
RHP - 34 Aaron Griffin, 6-4, 190, So., El Cajon, CA
(5-1, 2.67 ERA, 30.1 IP, 18 K)
Head Coach: Jason Gill (Cal State Fullerton, 1996)
LMU Record: 72-74 (3 years) Career Record: Same
* Collegiate Baseball newspaper ranking
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BULLDOGS REMAIN RANKED 24TH: Gonzaga University remained No. 24 in this week's Collegiate Baseball newspaper Top 30 Monday. The Bulldogs entered the poll last week for the first time this year and remained unchanged following an 11-6 loss to Washington State University April 5 and a series sweep over the University of San Diego in the West Coast Conference season-opener last weekend.
EDMAN TABB WCC RAWLINGS CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Redshirt senior Cameron Edman was tabbed Rawlings Co-Player of the Week as announced by the conference office this past Monday. Edman shares the weekly honor with Shon Roe of Loyola Marymount University. Edman went 7-for-15 (.467) with two doubles, a home run, four RBI and a .800 slugging percentage last week. He produced four hits including a pair doubles and a RBI in Gonzaga University's 11-6 loss to Washington State University April 5. Edman, who has not missed a start this season, is hitting .320 with 10 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 12 RBI.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS LIVE: Fans can follow all Gonzaga University home games and selected away games via Gametracker on the Internet at http://www.gozags.com.
THE BULLDOGS ARE ON SWX: Gonzaga University baseball will have three games televised on SWX this season starting April 5 against Washington State University. The other games being televised are April 25 against the University of Washington and May 27 against the University of San Francisco.
THE BULLDOGS ARE ON TWITTER: Fans can follow the Gonzaga University Bulldogs on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GonzagaBulldogs.
ON DECK: Gonzaga University will be home for Easter next weekend as they play five games in six days. The Bulldogs open the home stand with a three-game West Coast Conference series with Saint Mary's College starting Thursday at 6 p.m. Game two on Friday also starts at 6 p.m. and the series finale on Saturday starts at 1 p.m.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: Like Gonzaga University, Loyola Marymount University is also unbeaten in West Coast Conference play. The Lions opened the conference season with a three-game sweep (3-0, 7-1, 11-2) at Santa Clara University last weekend. Jason Wheeler pitched a complete-game shutout in the series-opener and Alex Gillingham followed the next day with another complete-game victory. The Lions were shutout 5-0 at home against eighth-ranked Cal State Fullerton this past Tuesday. Leadoff hitter Matt Lowenstein leads the Lions with a .381 batting average and three-four hitters Matt Koch and Shon Roe have driven 23 and 21 RBIs, respectively. Koch also leads the team in doubles (15) and home runs (3). Gillingham has pitched three complete-games, struck out 41 and has a 2.21 earned-run average in 57 innings. Brian Hawthorne leads the WCC in saves with eight.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE LIONS: Gonzaga University swept Loyola Marymount University in three games (8-4, 5-3, 6-1) last season in Spokane. Sophomore Billy Moon had an outstanding series against the Lions, going 6-for-9 with a pair of doubles and four RBI. Moon made an impact in the series finale, hitting a one-out RBI single in his first at bat in game three and in the eighth inning, he hit a one-out two-run double to left field to give the Bulldogs a 6-1 lead. The Bulldogs also had a strong performance on the hill. Senior Cody Martin struck out four in 8 1/3 innings to win the series opener, junior Ryan Carpenter allowed three runs in six innings of work for the win and former Zag Jeremy Stumetz allowed an unearned run in a complete-game.
GET THE BROOM OUT: Despite suffering an 11-6 loss to in-state rival Washington State University April 5, Gonzaga University has been successful at home. The Bulldogs swept a three-game series with then-11-ranked UC Irvine March 25-27, the University of New Mexico April 1-3 and last weekend against West Coast Conference foe University of San Diego. The Bulldogs have also swept a road series at the University of the Pacific March 4-6.
HOME SWEET HOME: Gonzaga University played its 100th contest at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field this past Sunday against the University of San Diego. The Bulldogs have compiled a record of 65-35 (.650) since they moved into their on-campus ballpark in 2007 and posted winning records in their first three seasons. Their season-best was 19-6 in their West Coast Conference regular-season and championship series titles season in 2009.
GONZALES COMPLETE-GAME STREAK ENDS: Freshman Marco Gonzales saw his streak of three consecutive complete-games come to an end in his last start against the University of San Diego this past Sunday. He pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits. Although he didn't pitch a complete-game, Gonzales won his fifth straight game on the hill.
BRINGING THEM HOME: Gonzaga University has been very productive in scoring runs. The Bulldogs lead the West Coast Conference in runs (167) and RBIs (143) while Santa Clara University sits in second in both runs (147) runs and 136 RBI. In the individual categories, junior third baseman Eric Lane has touched home plate 26 times, the most out of anybody in the conference, and sophomore outfielder Billy Moon has driven in 26 runs to lead the conference in that category.
MAKE THAT A DOUBLE: Gonzaga University has recorded 61 doubles, the most out of the West Coast Conference. The University of San Francisco sits second on the list with 57. Individually, redshirt senior Cameron Edman and sophomore Billy Moon pace the Zags with 10 each and they sit in a seven-way tie for third-most.
MOON SHINES IN OFFENSE: Sophomore Billy Moon has proven to be perhaps the best hitter in the West Coast Conference this season. The Spokane, Wash., native is second the conference in batting average (.380) and is leading in slugging percentage (.590). He is third in on-base percentage (.457) and is also in a seven-way tie third in doubles (10).
THREE ON THE RISE: Juniors Royce Bolinger, Eric Lane and redshirt senior Cameron Edman have been improving on their offense as of late. Bolinger is batting .324 with six doubles, a triple, 21 RBI and three home runs. Edman is hitting .307 with 10 doubles a triple, three home runs and 10 RBI. Lane got his average at .316 and has recorded five doubles, a homer and 14 RBI.
A PERFECT PAIRING: The Gonzaga University coaching staff may have found their number three and four hitters - outfielders Billy Moon and Royce Bolinger. In five games, the sophomore Moon is hitting .378 (14-37) and the junior Bolinger is hitting .342 (13-38) when the two are batting next to each other. In the University of New Mexico series April 1-3, Moon and Bolinger played a key role to helping the Bulldogs sweep the series. Moon hit a RBI double and Bolinger hit a double in their first at bats of the series opener. In game two, Moon hit a two-run home run to left field and Bolinger followed with a solo homer to the same spot and in game three Moon hit a double and Bolinger followed with a three-run home run.
PITCHERS LEADING THE WAY: Since opening day, Gonzaga University's pitching staff has been one of the best in the West Coast Conference. The Bulldogs have struck out 244 batters to sit second the WCC, seven shy from the University of San Francisco. Fifty-eight of those strikeouts came from junior Ryan Carpenter, who leads the conference in the individual category. While the Bulldogs 3.07 earned-run average is third-best in the conference, senior Cody Martin and junior Tyler Olson sit in the top two spots in the individual category with ERAs of 0.83 and 1.25, respectively. Freshman Marco Gonzales is starting to catch up to his two teammates. He is currently sitting fifth with a 2.59 ERA. In addition, Martin's opposing average of .172 is the best in the conference.
MARTIN CHASING RECORDS: Senior right-hander Cody Martin has been moving up in Gonzaga University's career record book. He made his 75th appearance this past Tuesday in Gonzaga's 3-1 loss to Washington State University and is five away from tying Matt Siwek (1996-2000) in that category. He also has 250 career strikeouts and is one away from tying Darin Blood (1993-95) for fourth in the all-time list.
ZAGS NAMED WCC RAWLINGS WEEKLY HONORS: Three Gonzaga University players have been named to the West Coast Conference Rawlings weekly honors this season. Junior Ryan Carpenter earned WCC Rawlings Pitcher of the Week Feb. 28 for his outstanding performance at then-eighth-ranked Texas A&M University Feb. 25. It was the first weekly honor for the Bulldogs this season. Sophomore Billy Moon was tabbed WCC Rawlings Player of the Week for his outstanding performance against the University of Iowa and University of Notre Dame in the Irish Baseball Classic in San Antonio, Texas, March 18-20. Freshman Marco Gonzales followed a week later as Rawlings Pitcher of the Week for his stellar outing against then-11th-ranked UC Irvine March 27.
ZAGS PICKED TO FINISH SIXTH BY WCC COACHES: Gonzaga University was picked to finish sixth in the West Coast Conference for the 2011 season according to a preseason vote by the league's head coaches Feb. 10. The Bulldogs, who received 20 points in the vote, finished the 2010 season 20-36 overall and 8-13 in the WCC, tied for fifth in the league standings. Defending champion University of San Diego was favored to successfully defend its conference title, having garnered a total of 49 points and all seven possible first place votes. For the second straight season there will not be a WCC Championship Series. The regular-season champion will receive the WCC's automatic berth to the NCAA Baseball Championships.
CARPENTER SELECTED TO ALL-WCC PRESEASON TEAM: Junior left-handed pitcher Ryan Carpenter was Gonzaga University's lone selection to the Preseason All-West Coast Conference team. Carpenter started all 12 appearances last season, second-most out of the rotation. He led the Zag starters in earned-run average (5.67), opposing batting average (.273) and allowed the fewest earned runs (38) and home runs (2). He finished second behind senior right-hander Cody Martin in strikeouts with 53.
WHO ELSE IS BACK: Gonzaga University returns 16 players this season. Senior Cameron Edman (.248, 6 2B, 1 HR) returns to the role as catcher after making 31 starts from behind the plate last season. Junior Chris Sturdivant (.276, 6 2B, 26 RBI) continues his role as one of the Zags outfielders after posting the team's third-highest on-base percentage with a .393. Also returning from the bench are sophomore outfielder/pitcher Billy Moon and senior outfielder Tyler Chism.
FOUR TO JOIN THE ZAGS NEXT YEAR: Gonzaga University head coach Mark Machtolf has announced on Dec. 20, 2010 the signing of four Washington natives to national letters-of-intent. The Bulldogs will welcome for the 2012 season right-handed pitcher Kevin Moriarty out of Shoreline High in Shoreline, middle infielder Mitchell Gunsolus from Inglemoor High in Kenmore, left-handed pitcher/outfielder Derek Callahan of Edmonds-Woodway High in Edmonds and right-handed pitcher/third baseman Zach Abbruzza, hailing from Redmond High in Redmond.
RECAPPING LAST SEASON: Gonzaga University finished 20-36 overall and 8-13 in the West Coast Conference to place them in a tie for fifth in the standings last season. The Zags got offensive impacts from Drew Heid, Mark Castellitto and junior Andy Hunter. Heid led the Bulldogs in nearly all offensive categories, batting average (.390), doubles (18), triples (4), slugging percentage (.602), on-base percentage (.467) and stolen bases (8-for-14). Castellitto led the Bulldogs in RBIs with 50.
