PEORIA, Ariz. - For the second straight game, the Gonzaga University baseball team rallied in the ninth inning as Marco Gonzales' three-run double lifted the Bulldogs to a 5-4 win over the University of Nebraska to complete the three-game non-conference series sweep at the Peoria Sports Complex Sunday afternoon.
Arizona natives Royce Bolinger and Andy Hunter led the Bulldogs effort in hitting and pitching, respectively. Bolinger had three hits, including a double, and Hunter struck out five batters, but allowed the four runs in six innings pitched.
Relievers Karl Myers, Ryan Leahy, Sean-Luke Brija and Derek Peterson (1-0) combined for a total of four hits in three shutout innings.
The Bulldogs (3-0) had runners in scoring position in the first, fourth and fifth innings, but they could not find a way to bring them home. Husker freshman starter Kyle Kubat held the Bulldogs to seven hits in five shutout innings of work.
The Huskers (0-3) got on the scoreboard in the first inning. Hunter walked the first batter he faced, but catcher Maxx Garrett caught the runner stealing second for the first out. After Hunter walked the No. 2 batter, the Huskers drove him in with a RBI single to score the first run of the game. They would earn their second run on a two-out RBI single down the right field line.
The Huskers took a 3-0 lead in the third inning after Hunter surrendered a two-out double and a RBI single. In the Huskers half of the seventh inning, Hunter walked the leadoff hitter, and a two-out RBI single off of Myers brought in the Huskers fourth run of the game.
Trailing 4-0, Garrett started the Bulldogs ninth-inning comeback with a one-out walk. Clayton Eslick hit a grounder to the shortstop, but a fielding error allowed him to reach safely and move Garrett to third base. After Cameron Alvarado walked to load the bases, Gonzales' only hit in the game found an open gap in right center field to clear the bases and give Gonzaga a 5-4 lead.
Although he allowed a leadoff single and a one-out walk, Peterson closed out the serieswith a fly out to center field and a strikeout.
The Bulldogs will head to Beaumont, Texas, next weekend to face the University of Illinois and Lamar University each twice at the YMBL Cardinal Classic.
