SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Gonzaga University baseball team opened its third weekend of play Thursday with a tough 2-0 defeat in a pitching duel against Collegiate Baseball's 11th-ranked Oklahoma State University.
The Zags have dropped four consecutive and sit at 2-7 on the season.
The first OSU run of the game came in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs and a runner on second base, Cowboy Bryan Case doubled down the left field line off Gonzaga starter Taylor Jones (1-1). The run proved to be enough as four Oklahoma State pitchers combined to shutout GU.
Jones was credited with the loss after working 8.0 innings allowing the run on five hits. The right-hander struck out a career-high eight and walked three. His day began by retiring nine straight and he did not allow a hit until the fifth inning.
Cowboy starter Tyler Nurdin was the winning pitcher of record after working 6.1 innings. GU managed seven hits off Nurdin but was unable to get on the board.
Oklahoma State added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. An OSU triple off reliever Sean-Luke Brija brought the Cowboy home but left-handed pitcher Ben Brown limited the damage with the final two outs of the frame.
GU went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game. OSU closer Brendan McCurry picked up the save.
Gonzaga out-hit the Cowboys 8-6 as Payden Cawley Lamb and Cabe Reiten each had a pair of hits. For Lamb, he had his second multiple hit game of the year and extended his hitting streak to six games.
Another GU streak kept alive was Cory LeBrun's reaching base safely mark. Dating back to 2013, LeBrun has reached safely in 16 straight games after a double in the bottom of the sixth.
The Bulldogs weekend in Surprise continues tomorrow where GU takes on tournament host Arizona State University. Freshman Brandon Bailey will get the start against Sun Devil Ryan Burr in Surprise Stadium at 4:30 p.m.
NOTE:
Freshman Troy LaBrie had his first collegiate hit in his Gonzaga career. He had a two out single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
