Gonzaga University
CSUN
Zags Stymied by CSUN
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box Score
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—Despite strong hitting from the top part of the lineup and a solid start from right hander Andrew Sopko, the Gonzaga University baseball team fell 6-2 to Cal State Northridge Saturday during both team's second game of the 2015 CSUN Invitational, held at Matador Park.
Both teams scattered hits through the first four innings with Gonzaga tallying four while CSUN saw two. The Zags got two runners on in the top of the third with both Mitchell Gunsolus and Dustin Breshears hitting back-to-back singles. The mini rally ended in the next at-bat, however, as Sam Brown hit a grounder to CSUN second baseman Ryan Raslowsky, who got the force out at second base to end the inning.
The hosts broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the fifth. Dylan Alexander led off the frame for the Matadors, facing eight pitches from Sopko before depositing the ninth over the left field fence. The senior right hander bounced back from the homer, however, striking out three of the next four CSUN batters to end the frame.
Northridge got a second run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Albee Weiss hit a leadoff double down the left field line off Gonzaga reliever Tyler Frost. In the next at bat, Weiss took off to steal third base, forcing Gonzaga catcher Joey Harris to hurry a throw that ended up in left field. Weiss advanced home on the error.
The Zag offense answered back in the top of the eighth inning. Brown initiated the rally with a single through the right side and took second two batters later when Caleb Wood singled to left field. Justin Jacobs then smacked the first pitch he saw over the head of CSUN left fielder Nick Blaser for a double, plating the two Bulldog runners and tying the game.
In the bottom of the frame, however, Northridge re-took the lead, scoring four runs on three hits. Raslowsky hit a leadoff bunt single and took second on a sacrifice bunt. Frost intentionally walked Spencer O'Neil, and a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance 90 feet. The Zags once again issued another free pass to load the bases in hopes of a force out, but two straight bases-loaded singles plated three runs, and the Matadors scored once more on a ground out from William Colantono.
The Zags didn't quit in the top of the ninth, however. Despite two outs to begin the frame, Gonzaga loaded the bases, starting with consecutive singles from Gunsolus and Breshears. Brown next reached base after getting tagged by CSUN pitcher Nick Viola, and Cory LeBrun got solid contact on a drive into the outfield. CSUN center fielder Justin Toerner made a running play on the ball, securing it on the fly to end the game.
Bulldog Bites
• The top of Gonzaga's lineup was a force as Gunsolus and Breshears combined to go 5x9 with a walk, accounting for nearly half of the Zags' hits and appearances on base. The two infielders both
• An error in the seventh inning aside, Harris made a day of throwing baserunners out. He gunned down three Matadors trying to steal a base, one in each of the first three innings. Three runners caught stealing is a career high for the junior and is the most by Gonzaga as a team since April 19, 2009.
• Sopko had a solid start, throwing 5.0 innings while allowing just one run and striking out six batters compared to two walks. The junior has now made 18 starts in his career and has allowed two or less runs in exactly half of them.
• Jacobs tallied his first hits in a Gonzaga uniform, going 3x4 with 2 RBIs on the day. Combined with Gunsolus' three-hit performances today and in the season opener, Gonzaga already has three individuals with three hits. It took the Zags six games to see three three-hit performances last season.
• Branson Trube saw his first collegiate start, manning center field for the Zags. Game one's starting center fielder was Frost, who made his first appearance on the mound as a relief pitcher in the sixth inning.
Mac Talk - Thoughts from Gonzaga head coach Mark Machtolf
On CSUN starter Jerry Keel:
"The top of our lineup did really well, he just pitched really well as well. He made pitches when he needed to. It was a good battle on the mound and a good battle at the plate all day."
On Gonzaga's pitchers:
"Sopko was effective, but his pitch count got really high really fast. Frost came in and threw well. He got in a bit of a jam in the eighth and had to rely on his fastball, and they just got a couple opportunistic hits at the right time."
Up Next
Gonzaga (1-1) wraps up opening weekend Sunday, February 15, with the final two games of the 2015 CSUN Invitational. The Zags will be the designated visitors for both games, the first of which is a 10:00 a.m. showdown with Utah Valley. The second game, against CSUN once again, is slated for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch but will start roughly a half hour after the first ends.
