STOCKTON, Calif. - The 2014 campaign came to an end for the Gonzaga University baseball team as the Bulldogs were eliminated from the West Coast Conference Championship in a 7-4 defeat to Loyola Marymount University at Banner Island Ballpark Friday night.
It was the second loss to the Lions (32-22) at the tournament for the Zags (26-29). Loyola Marymount downed the Bulldogs 5-1 in the opening round of the championship.
Gonzaga got off on the wrong foot and trailed the entire game. LMU scored three runs in the first inning on two hits, a passed ball and a wild pitch. Zags starter Taylor Jones recorded just one out and was pulled in favor of Kenny Smith after facing four batters.
"We just helped them out too much," head coach Mark Machtolf said. "It got a little sloppy and this is not the type of team that would not want me to make excuses for them. It did not go our way but I am so proud of how they stuck in there and fought until the end."
Nicholas Minteer had the first Bulldog hit, which lead to the Zags first run. After Minteer stole second base, Caleb Wood singled to right field to put GU on the board.
The Lions extended its lead to four runs on three costly Gonzaga errors in the top of the fourth inning. GU was able to chip into the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth as a response. With two outs, Payden Cawley Lamb took the J.D. Busfield offering to right field to score Brock Slavin.
GU threatened in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings. Unfortunately stellar defensive efforts from the Lions saved runs from scoring and the Bulldogs would strand two runners in both innings.
Smith's gutsy effort came to an end in the eighth inning. The senior threw a career-high 7.1 innings on 127 pitches. Four runs came in during his time on the mound but only two were earned. He struck out and walked four Lions.
"I cannot say enough about Kenny and the night he had," Machtolf said. "He has always been a great competitor and a true Zag. I am so proud and he pitched his heart out."
Gonzaga also used relief pitchers David Bigelow, Ben Brown and Sean-Luke Brija in the game. They combined for 1.1 scoreless innings.
LMU scored its final two runs in the top half of the eighth. David Edwards had an RBI single and the second run scored on a wild pitch.
The Bulldogs offense gave one final push in its last at bat. Jeffrey Bohling singled and was brought home on a Minteer double to left field. Bohling came home two batters later on a Mitchell Gunsolus sacrifice fly.
"Scoring those final two runs sort of epitomizes this team," Machtolf said. "They kept trying and that says a lot about the kind of team they are. This is one of the best groups of teammates I have had and at the end of the day that's what it is all about."
NOTES:
The game was the second of the day for both Gonzaga and Loyola Marymount. The Bulldogs defeated Santa Clara University 8-6 to advance to the nightcap. LMU fell 4-1 to Pepperdine University… Loyola Marymount will face Pepperdine Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU for in the Championship. The winner gets an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship… The game marked the last collegiate game for the five Gonzaga seniors: Karl Myers, Kenny Smith, Ben Brown, Brock Slavin and Payden Cawley Lamb.
