SPOKANE, Wash. - The Cougars got the best of Gonzaga University baseball Tuesday night at Patterson Baseball Complex as in-state rival Washington State University claimed a 5-1 victory over the Zags.
Gonzaga (12-23) scored its lone run of the game in the bottom of the first inning off Washington State's (17-16) Scott Simon. Caleb Wood and Payden Cawley Lamb hit back-to-back singles to put runners in scoring position. Then with two outs, Sam Brown hit a base knock to left field for his 14th RBI of the year.
Despite the success in the first inning, the GU bats would get cold as the Bulldogs did not manage another hit until the fifth. Cabe Reiten led off the inning with a single through the right side but Simon got Joey Harris to hit into a double play to cool any momentum.
Zags starter Kenny Smith got the loss after working 3.1 innings. Smith did not allow a hit until the third but unfortunately it resulted in a Cougar offensive spurt.
Collin Slaybaugh singled up the middle and Trek Stemp was hit by a pitch to put two on base for WSU. Power hitter Yale Rosen put the Cougars on top with his three run homer to right field, which gave Washington State all the run support it needed.
WSU extended its lead to 5-1 with a pair of runs in the eighth, but GU did attempt one last rally in the bottom half of the frame.
Cougar reliever Kellen Camus retired the first two batters in the inning but gave up back-to-back hits to Mitchell Gunsolus and Wood. WSU went to the bullpen and brought in lefty Matt Bower who gave up a base hit to Lamb. Representing the tying run, Jimmy Sinatro had to opportunity to cut into the lead but unfortunately struck out to end the at bat.
GU used four pitchers in the game including Smith. David Bigelow was the first out of the bullpen and he pitched 4.1 innings allowing two runs on seven hits. Southpaw Ben Brown worked an innings to record two strikeouts. Sean-Luke Brija made his 12th appearance of the year and retired the lone batter he faced.
The Bulldogs and Cougars will meet two more times this year. GU travels to Pullman April 22 and the series concludes in Spokane May 13.
More West Coast Conference play is on tap for Gonzaga. The Zags welcome University of Portland to Patterson Complex for a three game series starting Thursday at 6 p.m.
