Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash.—Playing the away leg of a home-and-home series against Washington State Tuesday night, the Gonzaga University baseball team fell 4-2 to the Cougars in Pullman, splitting the season series with the eastern Washington foe.

Washington State broke onto the scoresheet first, getting a run in the fourth inning. Ian Sagdal led the frame off with a double to the gap in left center, and he moved to third on a groundout in the next play. The second baseman came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Ben Roberts.

The Zags evened the game in the top of the sixth inning with a run of their own. The first two batters reached base after Jeff Bohling singled through the left side and Joey Harris drew a walk. Both were off WSU starter Scotty Sunitsch, and the two baserunners chased the Cougar hurler from the game. After the Bulldogs' first out of the inning, Sam Brown was intentionally walked, loading the bases for Caleb Wood. The GU left fielder picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly out to center field, bringing home Bohling.

The Cougars retook the lead in the bottom half of the frame, however, getting three runs on a home run by WSU pinch hitter Patrick McGrath. The long ball came off GU reliever Calvin LeBrun, but Frost was responsible for the two baserunners that scored on the hit as well. Wes Hatton reached via a single while Sagdal was intentionally walked. Frost did retire one Cougar batter before departing during the sixth inning, however.

Gonzaga had opportunities to pick up runs in each of the final three frames, getting runners into scoring position in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. The Zags loaded the bases in both the seventh and eighth but saw those frames ended with a double play and a strikeout, respectively. In the ninth, Cory LeBrun led off with a single to left field and moved to third on a Bohling double. Dustin Breshears grounded out to first base to plate LeBrun for an RBI, but that one run wasn't enough as the Zags fell 4-2.

With the loss, Gonzaga split the season series against Washington State with each team winning on its home field. GU beat the Cougars 5-4 on March 31 at Patterson Baseball Complex & Washington Trust Field with Frost getting the start and Jones hitting a two-run blast that gave the Bulldogs a permanent lead in the sixth inning.

Bulldog Bites

• After catching Roberts trying to second in the second inning, Harris has thrown out eight of his last nine attempted stealers. He gunned down the final two Cougars who tried to take a base March 31 and was a perfect 5-for-5 in gunning down base runners against San Diego. Sagdal nabbed a base in the first inning of the tonight's game, but Harris fired back by throwing out Roberts in the second. He entered the game with a .525 caught stealing percentage, fifth-best in the nation among catchers with 10 caught stealing.
• In tonight's game, Frost posted similar numbers to his last outing, a no-decision in a start against the Cougars on March 31. He went 5.1 innings and gave up three runs in both contests, and he struck out three batters Tuesday night after fanning four WSU batters. The freshman righthander only gave up three hits in Pullman, however, the second-lowest mark in a start this season and lowest in a start of over 3.0 innings.
• With a single in the ninth inning, LeBrun extended his hit streak to 16 games, the program's longest since 2010. The redshirt senior is hitting .356 during the stretch, and he's also reached base in each of the last 20 games dating back to March 6. The next streak LeBrun is chasing is a 19-gamer from Drew Heid in 2010.
• Gonzaga has still held the recent advantage in the eastern Washington series with the Cougars. They've now won or tied each season series versus WSU since 2012 and have won eight of the last 11 contests.
• Breshears picked up his first RBI since March 21 with a groundout in the ninth inning. The redshirt junior has nine RBIs on the year and is one of 11 Zags with at least five runs batted in.

Next Up
The Bulldogs (15-17, 5-7 WCC) return to Spokane for their penultimate home series of the season for a three-game set against Saint Mary's April 10-12. The first game of the West Coast Conference matchup will take place Friday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m. at Patterson Baseball Complex & Washington Trust Field.