Gonzaga University
Utah Valley
Zags Split on Final Day of Opening Weekend
2/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Gonzaga vs. Utah Valley Box Score
Gonzaga at CSUN Box Score
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—The Gonzaga University baseball team wrapped up the 2015 CSUN Invitational with two games Sunday, taking down Utah Valley 6-4 in the morning while falling 5-1 to Cal State Northridge in the afternoon at Matador Field in Northridge.
Game One: Gonzaga 6, Utah Valley 4
Gonzaga wasted no time in taking an early lead in the morning contest against Utah Valley. Mitchell Gunsolus started off the day with a single to right center. Two batters later, Gunsolus stole second while UVU starter Kaden Schmitt threw a wild pitch, allowing the speedy Gunsolus to take third base. With a runner 90 feet away, Sam Brown hit a grounder to first base, reaching safely when UVU first baseman Spencer Gothberg tried unsuccessfully to throw out Gunsolus. Brown came around to score later in the frame when Caleb Wood ripped a double down the left field line.
The Bulldogs struck again in the third inning when Dustin Breshears safely reached on a throwing error, taking second base in the process. He scored one batter later when Brown picked up his second RBI of the day with a single through the right side.
Both teams scored one run apiece in the sixth inning, and the Wolverines tied it up in the bottom of the seventh with three runs. The first run scored when Kade Andrus reached on an error, and Seth Rhineer brought in two with a single to right field.
As the Zags had done so the two days previously, the Zags responded immediately with a pair of scores of their own. Justin Jacobs led reached base on an error in to lead the frame off, and he took second on a wild pitch. Tyler Frost singled Jacobs over to third base, and they both moved up on another wild pitch from UVU pitcher Kyle Valgardson, Jacobs scoring and Frost taking third.
David Bigelow capped off the win with his second save of the year, making outs against all three batters he faced, putting emphasis on the 6-4 victory with a strikeout on the final batter.
Game Two: CSUN 5, Gonzaga 1
The second game began much like the first one with the Bulldogs grabbing an early lead. In the second at bat of the game, Breshears ripped a ball down the right field line, reaching third on the hit. He scored a short time later when CSUN starter Angel Rodriguez threw a wild pitch.
In the fourth inning, CSUN took the lead, scoring three runs on two hits and benefitting from a pair of GU errors. Yusuke Akitoshi brought in an earned run with a single to right field for the first run. The next batter, Spencer O'Neil, reached base on a throwing error by Cory LeBrun, in an attempt to start a double play. With runners on first and second, the Matadors then attempted a double steal. GU catcher Troy LaBrie missed Gunsolus in an attempt to catch the lead runner, allowing both runners to move up two bases. O'Neil then scored the third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Nick Blaser.
The next inning, the Matadors got two more when Ryan Raslowsky singled through the right side. The hit scored Dylan Alexander and advanced Chester Pak to third, who then scored on a throwing error by Wood.
The Zags got hits in each of the remaining innings, but they didn't string any of them together, falling 5-1 to end the weekend.
Bulldog Bites
• Both starting pitchers on the day made their first career starts. Sean-Luke Brija got the nod against Utah Valley, going 6.2 innings with one strikeout and one walk. The redshirt junior allowed four runs, but each of those four was unearned. In the afternoon, freshman Calvin LeBrun made his collegiate debut, going 6.0 innings with two strikeouts. Only three of the five runs he allowed were earned.
• Hunter Wells and Eli Morgan also made their collegiate debuts, each not allowing a run against the Matadors. Morgan replaced LeBrun to begin the seventh inning and threw while Wells took over in the eighth.
• At 2-2, the Zags are .500 on the year through four games. They've started out at .500 for three of the last four years, going 1-3 in 2014, 2-2 in 2013, and 4-0 in 2012.
• The Zags' top of the lineup was at it again as Gunsolus and Breshears combined to go 8x18 with three runs scored and an RBI in both games Sunday. Against Utah Valley in the morning, that leadoff proficiency extended to every inning, where the Zags' leadoff hitter reached base seven times in nine innings.
• Three players have hits in all four games so far this season as Gunsolus, Breshears, and Cory LeBrun each hit safely throughout the weekend. Those three players are leading the squad in batting average, hits, slugging percentage, and on base percentage.
Mac Talk - thoughts from Gonzaga head coach Mark Machtolf
On the weekend:
"It was good to get outside and enjoy the weather and the competition. You never know where you're at until you play somebody else. We had god competition and saw some good things form our guys. Some veterans played really well and some of the new guys got their feet wet and performed well.
On the second game of the day
"In game two, we faced a decent pitcher who kept us off balance while giving their offense too many chances. We made some mistakes that we will shore up. It gives us things to work on in practice this week."
Up Next
The Zags (2-2) are back in action Friday, Feb. 20, with a game at UC Davis. That, the first of a four-game series with the Aggies, will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Davis, Calif.
