Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
DAVIS, Calif.— The Gonzaga University baseball team doubled its offensive output Saturday, exploding for a combined 31 hits and 21 runs en route to two wins over UC Davis at the Dobbins Baseball Complex in Davis, Calif.
Game One: Gonzaga 13, UC Davis 4
UC Davis got on the scoreboard first, scoring two in the bottom of the second. Austin March led off with a single and reached third base in the next two at bats. Next, Alex Aguiar and Izaak Silva hit back-to-back doubles to bring in the runs.
Gonzaga struck back immediately, tying the contest in the top of the third. Joey Harris led the frame with a walk, and he moved over with a single from Mitchell Gunsolus. In the next at bat, Dustin Breshears advanced Harris 90 more feet with a fielder's choice, and Sam Brown brought the catcher home with a single to left center. Designated hitter Jimmy Sinatro also ripped an RBI single, sending the ball back up the middle to plate Breshears. Caleb Wood tried to extend the inning with another single, but Brown was thrown out at home attempting to score from second base.
The Bulldogs took the lead in the fourth, erupting for four runs and chasing UC Davis starter Orlando Razo from the game. GU got another leadoff batter on base when Justin Jacobs reached on a fielding error from Razo, and he moved up two bases when Harris singled through the right side. Tyler Frost then picked up an RBI with a grounder to second base, getting on due to an Aggie error. Two batters later, Harris scored on a sacrifice fly from Breshears. Brown capped off the GU scoring with a double down the left field line, plating Frost and Gunsolus.
In the top of the fifth, Jacobs hit the first GU home run of the year, a solo shot to right field off Justin Mullins. The Zags picked up another run later on in the frame when Breshears singled to left field, scoring Harris once again.
Gonzaga had their biggest inning of the year in the seventh inning, scoring five runs on five hits. Brown picked up another RBI, but the big hit came from pinch hitter Taylor Jones, who tripled to left center field. He brought in Jacobs and Wood for two RBIs. Wood and Jacobs also posted RBIs in the frame.
UC Davis picked up a pair of consolation runs in the eighth to put the score at 13-4, Gonzaga's largest win since May 26, 2012.
Game Two: Gonzaga 8, UC Davis 2
The Zags' bats continued where they left off, taking a two-run lead in the second inning. Jones gave GU a two-out base runner by reaching on a throwing error by UC Davis third baseman Aguiar. Next, LaBrie, in his second start of the season at catcher, launched a homer down the right field line, bringing in two RBIs. It was his first career home run.
Gonzaga got three more in the top of the third. Brown reached base with one out on a single to right field and came around to score on another single from Wood. Then, Jones picked up his first hit of game two with a single to center field, bringing Jacobs. Finally, Wood crossed the plate when LaBrie hit a grounder to short.
In the fourth inning, Gonzaga plated two more runs. With one out, Jacobs grounded out to first base in order to score Breshears from third, and during the next at bat, Brown scored on a wild pitch from UC Davis reliever Spencer Henderson.
Gonzaga starter Calvin LeBrun did well on the mound, posting a quality start with 8.0 innings pitched while allowing just two runs and fanning three UC Davis batters. Gage Burland took over for the Zags in the ninth and struck out the side to the end the game at 8-2.
Bulldog Bites
• Gonzaga's 9-run win over UC Davis in game one was the program's largest margin of victory since May 26, 2012, when the Zags won by 16 (17-1) at BYU. The Zags' largest win last season was by five runs, which happened three times: Feb. 20 vs. Incarnate Word (6-1), March 29 versus Loyola Marymount (10-5), and April 22 at Washington State (7-2).
• Two GU players posted four RBIs in one game today as Brown hit that mark in game one while LaBrie did so in game two. This already equals last year's season high of two 4-RBI games. LaBrie's RBIs today were the first ones of his career. Brown's four RBIs are also a career high.
• Wyatt Mills picked up a save - the first of his career - in game one despite the lopsided score. He pitched 3.0 innings in relief, meeting the standard for a relief pitcher in spite of the score. David Bigelow leads the team with two saves.
• UC Davis entered Saturday undefeated with a 4-0-1 record and had held opponents to two runs or less in each of the last two games and three of the last four.
• Jones' RBI triple in game one was his first base knock of the year and brought in his first RBIs of the year. He later picked up his first start in game two, getting the nod at first base.
Season Tickets
The home opener is rapidly approaching (Friday, March 13th at 6:00 p.m.), and it's time to start ordering season tickets! For just $50, you can guarantee yourself a seat at every home baseball game, or for $100 you may purchase a Family Pass, which allows up to two adults and four children to attend every game. To order tickets and for more information, please visit gozags.com/tickets, call 509.313.6000, or stop by the Gonzaga Ticket Office inside the McCarthey Athletic Center Monday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Mac Talk - thoughts from Gonzaga head coach Mark Machtolf
On the team's play
"Our at-bats finally came together and we responded to the punch that UC Davis threw yesterday. We played really loose and excited, hit the ball really well, and had a good approach at the plate."
On the day's pitching
"The pitcher came in and commanded the strike zone all day. They forced them [UC Davis] to put the ball in play."
Up Next
The Zags (4-3) will round out the series with UC Davis Sunday, Feb. 22, with a 1:00 p.m. contest. RHP Sean-Luke Brija is expected to take the mound for Gonzaga while UC Davis' starter is still to be announced.
