Gonzaga University
Saint Mary's
Jacobs Powers 5-3 Gonzaga Win
4/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash.— Sophomore Justin Jacobs powered the Gonzaga offense Saturday night, bringing in all five Gonzaga RBIs in the Zags' 5-3 victory over Saint Mary's in game two of the WCC series at Patterson Baseball Complex & Washington Trust Field in Spokane.
Jacobs, a transfer from Lower Columbia College, became the first GU batter in three years with five RBIs in a game, bringing in those five runs on two hits. In the first inning, Jacobs hit a bases-clearing triple to left center - his first in a Zag uniform - to give Gonzaga a 3-0 advantage right off the bat. The three-bagger brought in Jeff Bohling, who reached with a single, Mitchell Gunsolus, who drew a walk, and Taylor Jones, who singled to left center immediately before Jacobs.
Saint Mary's got one of those scores back in the second inning. Connor Hornsby led the frame off with a hard-hit single that bounced off Jones' glove at first base. He moved over to third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt, and a sacrifice fly from Ian McLoughlin brought the second baseman home for the run.
Three innings later, Jacobs added two more RBIs to his tally as the Zags took a 5-1 lead. With one out, Sam Brown slapped his way aboard with a bunt single and moved over two batters later when Gunsolus deposited a hard-hit ball into right center field. Jones continued the inning with a walk, and Jacobs put a 1-1 pitch into right center, plating Brown and Gunsolus safely for his fourth and fifth RBIs of the night. Jones tried to score from first again on the double, but this time he was thrown out before reaching the plate.
In the seventh inning, the Gaels made it a two-run ballgame by scoring one run each on both GU relievers that threw in the frame. RHP Zach Abbruzza started off the inning by walking Matt Toscano and was pulled in favor of GU closer David Bigelow. Bigelow then saw two unfortunate hits as Zach Kirtley blooped a base knock over the 6-8 Jones' head at first base, and then Anthony Villa reached base with a fly ball to right center that popped out of Brown's glove when the diving center fielder hit the ground. In the next at bat, Toscano scored when Hornsby grounded into a double play, and Collin Ferguson followed up with an RBI single to right center, putting the score at 5-3.
In the eighth inning, Bigelow got Saint Mary's two strand two runners on base after a base hit and a walk. With runners on first and second with two outs, he got Kirtley to line out to Gonzaga shortstop Dustin Breshears to end the inning. Breshears played stellar defense all game and equaled a season-high eight assists while making two putouts himself. During the top of the ninth, Bigelow erased the only runner he allowed on base with a double play and got Ferguson to pop up, ending the game and clinching the series for the Zags.
Bulldog Bites
- Jacobs' five RBIs are the most by any Zag batter since Alex Stanford equaled the feat March 31, 2012 against Pepperdine. The right fielder also saw his second game as a Bulldog with multiple hits for extra bases as he legged out a double and a triple. The last time that happened, March 10 at Arkansas, the sophomore transfer doubled and hit a home run, bringing in three RBIs as Gonzaga took down the Razorbacks 6-2.
- Gonzaga starter Hunter Wells picked up his first career win after going throwing 5.2 innings of one-run ball. He struck out three batters in his first conference start and retired the Gaels in order during the first and fifth innings. The start was his longest appearance of the year, besting his previous long outing by two outs. This was also the first of three starts in which he allowed just one run, although the Spokane native only gave up two March 29 at Loyola Marymount.
- After going 2-for-4 with a double, a single, and a walk, Jones has now hit safely in each of the last 10 games. The junior first baseman leads the team with a .415 batting average, .449 on base percentage, and .600 slugging percentage. His 17 RBIs are second on the squad. Much of that damage has come in conference play as the native of Kent, Wash., has a slash line of .500/.512/.675 with nine RBIs against West Coast Conference opponents.
- Cory LeBrun went hitless Saturday night, snapping his career-long 17 game hit streak and 21 game on base streak. The hit streak was the Zags' longest since Drew Heid hit safely in 19 consecutive games during the 2010 season. Gonzaga did see one streak hit 20 games Saturday, however, as Brown reached base in his 20th consecutive game. The Bulldogs have had three reached base streaks of 20 games or more this season: Brown's of 20, LeBrun's of 21, and Breshears' 22 game reached base streak to begin the season.
Zag Speak - Thoughts on the game from Gonzaga coaches and players
Gonzaga outfielder Justin Jacobs on the night
"I'm happy that the rest of my team has been able to get on base and allow me to get those big hits tonight. I'm feeling good; the whole team's feeling pretty good after these two games. We're looking forward to going after the sweep tomorrow."
Assistant coach Steve Bennett on the Zags' pitching staff
"It wasn't particularly easy tonight. We didn't pitch great, but we battled. Each guy made big pitches in big situations. It's not how you draw it up, but a win's a win."
Next Up
With the win, Gonzaga evened up its overall record at 17-17 and conference record at 7-7. The Zags will go for their first sweep of the year Sunday, April 12, when they host the Gaels one final time at Patterson Baseball Complex. RHP Brandon Bailey is projected to get the start for Gonzaga while the Gaels will counter with RHP Anthony Gonsolin. First pitch for game three of the series is slated for 12:00 p.m.
