Gonzaga University
San Francisco
Zags Lose Series Opener To Dons In WCC Championship Race
5/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 27, 2011
SPOKANE, Wash. - Keegan Acker went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a walk to help the Gonzaga University baseball team's offense but the University of San Francisco beat the Bulldogs 4-2 in the West Coast Conference series opener Friday.
The Dons (30-22, 15-4 WCC) hold a one game lead over the Bulldogs (31-18-1, 14-5 WCC) in a race for the WCC championship. The Bulldogs must win Saturday's contest to have the championship be decided Sunday.
Bulldogs starter Ryan Carpenter (8-2) struck out seven, walked two and allowed eight hits but two balks called on him helped the Dons gain two runs. He went on to throw 6 1/3 frames before handing the ball to Andy Hunter, who struck out four and allowed two hits, one on a home run.
Steven Halcomb turned in a double for his only hit of the day while Eric Lane, Tyler Chism, Marco Gonzales each produced a single.
The Dons also used two pitchers, who combined to allow six hits. Kyle Zimmer (5-4) threw seven innings and struck out two and issued three free passes but allowed the two runs. Cameron Love went the rest of the way to earn the shutout.
After two shutout frames, San Francisco drew first blood of this important series to both clubs with a leadoff single to right field. Following a sacrifice bunt and a single to left field, the Dons were awarded a run after Carpenter was called for his first balk.
The Bulldogs had an opportunity to get that run back in their half of the third inning. Chism singled on a bunt to the third baseman with two outs and while he successfully stole second, he advanced to third after the catcher's throw was out of the shortstop's reach. But the Bulldogs couldn't find the hit to bring him in.
In the visitor's half of the fourth, Carpenter surrendered a leadoff double and following a wild pitch, the Dons laid down a successful suicide squeeze to get the second run in.
The Bulldogs broke through a half inning later. Cameron Edman led off the inning with a walk but a hit-and-run attempt prevented the catcher and the Bulldogs victims of the double play. Edman was called safe at second but the throw to first for the putout was in time. Acker brought in the Bulldogs first run with a two-out single up the middle.
Halcomb christened the fifth inning with his double toward left center field and two sacrifice hits by Lane and Chism was enough to tie the game 2-2.
The Dons regained the lead in the sixth. Carpenter struck out the leadoff hitter but hit the next batter. The runner was awarded second base on another balk. The Dons took advantage of the balk with an RBI single to left field.
Edman led off the sixth with a potential extra-base liner but was robbed by the third baseman's jumping catch. The Dons, who cashed in an insurance run with a solo home run in the eighth inning, held the Bulldogs to only a single and a walk the rest of the game.
