Gonzaga University
Purdue
Bailey, Bats Shine in Game Two of Split Doubleheader
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
PHOENIX, Ariz.—The Gonzaga University baseball team kicked off the Phoenix Muni Classic today in exciting fashion Thursday, falling in a tight game one to Purdue but rebounding for a big victory over the Boilermakers in game two at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix.
Game One: Purdue 5, Gonzaga 3
As the designated visiting team, Purdue jumped out to an early lead with four runs on four hits in the top half of the first. Michael Vilardo led the game off with a single through the left side, scoring when Cody Strong doubled down the left field line. Kyle Wood also posted an RBI double, bringing in two runs on a drive to right field. He later came around to score an unearned run when Harry Shiply reached on a Gonzaga fielding error.
Jeff Evak added to Purdue's lead in the top of the fourth with a solo home run, but the Zags got that run back in their half of the frame. After getting a baserunner in each previous inning, Gonzaga finally pushed a run across in the fourth. With one out, Cory LeBrun drew a walk and moved to second on a single from Tyler Frost. The next batter up, Jeff Bohling, ripped a single through the right side to plate the first baseman. The RBI was Bohling's first of the season.
Gonzaga added another run in the fifth inning, cutting Purdue's lead to three. Sam Brown reached base with a one-out infield single and moved over to third when Caleb Wood doubled to left center field. In the next at bat, Justin Jacobs hit a sacrifice fly to Purdue center fielder Kyle Johnson, who tripped after making the catch. With the gaffe, Wood attempted to score from second on the play but was thrown out by Evak, Purdue's right fielder, at the plate.
In the eighth, the Zags trimmed their deficit to just two after Brown led off with a double to left center. Two batters later, Jacobs singled to move Brown up to third, and the redshirt sophomore scored when LeBrun singled through the right side. The next two Bulldog batters represented the go-ahead run, but Frost lined out to right and Bohling grounded into a fielder's choice to end the frame.
After keeping Purdue scoreless in the top of the ninth, the Zags again tried to take the lead in the bottom of the frame. They loaded the bases with one out thanks to a single from Mitchell Gunsolus and walks from Dustin Breshears and Brown. In the next at bat, Wood lined out to Shipley at short, who then doubled off Breshears at second base to end the game.
Game Two: Gonzaga 12, Purdue 2
The Zags bounced back immediately in game two of the doubleheader, spurred on by a strong pitching performance by Brandon Bailey. The sophomore fanned a season high nine strikeouts while taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He allowed three hits total, also a personal best.
For the fourth time this season, the Zags found themselves with a lead after the first inning as they plated one run to begin game two. Gunsolus led the game off with a walk and moved over to third base on a single by Breshears. Brown grounded into a double play in the next at bat, but Gunsolus came in for the early GU advantage.
The Zags extended their lead with two more runs in the third. After drawing a leadoff walk and taking third on a double by Gunsolus, Joey Harris scored the first run of the inning on an RBI single from Breshears. Two batters later, Gunsolus scored his second run of the day from third base, advancing home on a fielder's choice from Wood.
Jacobs blew the game open in the fifth inning with his second home run of the season, a drive down the right field line that traveled at least 345 feet. The blast brought in Gunsolus, who led off the frame with a single, and Wood, who drew a two-out walk to reach base.
The Zags scored at least one run in each remaining inning, with one run in the sixth, eighth, and ninth innings and three in the seventh. Brown led off the seventh with a triple down the right field line and scored later when LeBrun grounded into a double play. Also in that frame, Nick Nyquist tallied his first career hit and RBI when he ripped a pinch-hit double to right center, plating Frost in the process.
On the mound, Bailey dominated Purdue through the first two-thirds of the game, facing the minimum through six innings and retiring 14 consecutive batters between the second and seventh. The Boilermakers' first hit of the game didn't come until the seventh when Vilardo singled on Bailey's first pitch in the frame. They scored one run on three hits in the seventh, Bailey's last inning of work. Purdue also got a single run in the bottom of the ninth, bringing the final score to 12-2 in favor of Gonzaga.
Bulldog Bites
- Bailey set a career high with nine strikeouts, one more than his previous best of eight Ks. He hit that mark twice, most recently Feb. 13 against Utah Valley. His three hits allowed also set a career mark, improving on the four hits he allowed in his first ever start at Gonzaga on Feb. 14, 2014 versus Oregon State. Three hits allowed is also the best by any Gonzaga starting pitcher (min. 4.0 innings) since Andrew Sopko held Santa Clara to three hits April 13 of last season.
- Gonzaga got its leadoff hitter aboard eight of nine times during game two, going 5x6 with a double, a triple, and three walks with the first batters of the inning. That leadoff runner came around to score for the Zags in five of those innings. Overall, the Zags are getting their leadoff runner on base 44.9% of the time (40x89) in 2015.
- Sophomore Hunter Wells pitched well in relief during game one of the doubleheader, throwing 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, and striking out four batters. The three innings pitched and four Ks were both season highs, and Wells remains one of the Zags' three relief pitchers who have yet to give up a run this season.
- Nyquist made his season debut today, entering game one as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. He struck out in that at bat, but tallied his first hit, hit for extra bases, and RBI in game two as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. Lucas Gately also picked up his first hit of the season, entering game two as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. He doubled to left field for the base knock.
- Gunsolus and Frost each picked up four hits during game two, the first four-hit performances of the year for Gonzaga. Gunsolus now has seven multi-hit games, most on the team, while Frost has four. He also has reached base safely in each game this season, while Breshears extended his hit streak to all 10 games as well.
- Gunsolus entered the day with 16 hits and a .471 average, good for 12th and 81st in the nation, respectively. After today's two games, he's ripped 22 base knocks and a .500 average. These totals would put the senior in ties for third and 41st in the nation, respectively, using today's ranks.
- Jacobs' home run in the fifth inning of game two was his second of the year and Gonzaga's third overall. He led the team with four RBIs over the two games, and.his season total of nine RBIs leads the team as well.
Season Tickets Now Available
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 the 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 Game One
"Our bats were good all day. We just made some mistakes in game one both in the field and on the mound; we also couldn't come through the clutch hit when we needed it. We hit the ball hard all day, there wasn't much to show for it."
On Game Two
"The bats were still alive in the afternoon, and we got key hits when we needed it with guys in scoring position. Bailey was as good as he's been today. That's very close to his best start of his career."
Next Up
Gonzaga (5-5) will play a single game on day two of the Phoenix Muni Classic, facing CSU Bakersfield Friday, Feb. 27. The game will begin at 9:00 a.m., again at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. LHP Calvin LeBrun is scheduled to start for Gonzaga while the Roadrunners are expected to go with RHP Steven Gee.
