Gonzaga University
San Francisco
Zags Fall To Dons 4-2 In WCC Championship Game
5/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 29, 2011
SPOKANE, Wash. - The University of San Francisco baseball team took an early lead and Gonzaga University tried to rally back late in the game but came up short as the Dons defeated the Bulldogs 4-2 in what was eventually a West Coast Conference championship game on the final day of the regular-season Sunday.
Although he allowed the three runs, Bulldogs (32-19-1, 15-6 WCC) starter Tyler Olson (6-5) settled down, striking out four and retiring 11 straight in 6 1/3 innings of work. Cody Martin finished the game striking out three and walking four. The two pitchers combined to allow nine hits.
Eric Lane produced three of all of the Bulldogs eight singles in the game. Tyler Chism and Cameron Edman both drove in the Bulldogs runs.
Dons (31-23, 16-5 WCC) starter Jonathan Abramson went 3 2/3 allowing one run on four hits but Jordan Remer (3-2) threw 4 1/3, striking out five, walking three and allowing one run on three hits.
The Dons early lead came in the second inning. Olson surrendered a leadoff home run and a single to the second baseman Keegan Acker and although the Bulldogs retired the next two batters on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, a single followed by a double down the right field line put the Dons ahead 3-0.
The Bulldogs responded in their half of the third inning. Marco Gonzales led off with a single to right field. A wild pitch moved him to second base and Steven Halcomb walked to set up for Acker to lay down a sacrifice bunt to have two runners in scoring position. Chism's ground out to the third baseman brought Gonzales home for the Bulldogs first run.
Olson tamed the Dons offense to give his offense a chance to come back but in the seventh inning a fielding error by Lane at third base gave the Dons their fourth run of the game.
The Bulldogs had bases-loaded opportunities in both the seventh and eighth innings but they couldn't find the hitting spark they needed to do any damage. At one point with two out in the eighth, Halcomb hit a long fly that could have been the go-ahead grand slam but the ball sailed about five feet from the left field foul pole. He would strikeout to end the inning.
Gonzaga made one final push in the ninth inning. Thomas Henderson, who came in late in the game for Acker at second base, led off the inning with a walk and Chism was hit by Remer. Billy Moon grounded to the second baseman and although Chism was forced out at second, Moon beat the throw to avoid the double play.
Edman had a battle with Kyle Zimmer, who was Friday's starter but came in Sunday's game to get the save. Edman won the 11-pitch battle with a RBI single through the left side. Following a flyout, Andy Hunter also had a battle with Zimmer at the plate. Hunter hit a line drive toward left field but the third baseman made a jumping catch to prevent what might have been the game-tying hit and secure the win for the Dons.
Prior to first pitch, the Bulldogs honored their six seniors, Martin, Acker, Chism, Edman, Chris Sturdivant and Mark Phillips in front of 1,364 in hand at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field.
