Gonzaga University
Oregon
Zags Edged in One-run Contest at Oregon
5/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box Score
EUGENE, Ore.—The Gonzaga University baseball team wrapped up the 2015 non-conference slate Wednesday night with a 2-1 pitching battle at Oregon. GU wound up on the wrong side of the score, however, falling in the one-run game at PK Park in Eugene.
In a steep contrast to the first game of the brief two-game set, Gonzaga and Oregon combined for just three runs in Wednesday's contest, a mark that was met in three different half-innings on May 12. Additionally, the teams amassed 12 total hits Wednesday while each collected at least 12 individually during game one.
Gonzaga opened scoring Wednesday night with a run in the third. The first three Bulldogs to bat in the frame each reached base with a single: Dustin Breshears and Mitchell Gunsolus had knocks into the outfield while Sam Brown laid down a bunt for a base hit. The Zags then traded an out for a run when Taylor Jones hit a sacrifice fly out to right field. During the next at bat, Gunsolus was tagged out trying to score from third after Brown was caught in a run down between first and second. Brown did manage to take second while Gunsolus was tagged out, but he was stranded there after a groundout ended the inning.
GU starter Calvin LeBrun turned in a quality start, throwing 6.0 innings and holding the Ducks to two runs. The freshman retired the side in the first and fifth innings and struck out four batters through six frames as well. In the sixth, however, Oregon got two base runners with two down as Austin Grebeck laid down a bunt single and Mitchell Tolman drew a walk, just the second of the day issued by LeBrun. Phil Craig-St. Louis then doubled down the right field line, bringing in both base runners and giving Oregon a 2-1 advantage. LeBrun got Scott Heineman to ground out to end the inning, however, keeping the Ducks from causing further damage.
Closer David Bigelow took over for LeBrun in the seventh inning, holding Oregon scoreless through the rest of the ballgame.
On offense, the Zags saw additional scoring opportunities throughout the game but couldn't capitalize. In the fifth, GU loaded the bases with one down when Breshears was hit by a pitch and both Gunsolus and Brown drew walks. A double play by the UO defense, however, ended the inning without a Bulldog crossing the plate.
With the loss, Gonzaga ended the 2015 non-conference slate. They finished the year with a record of 11-14 outside of WCC competition, posting wins against Utah Valley, UC Davis, Purdue, Tulane, Arkansas, Washington State, and UCLA.
Bulldog Bites
- LeBrun made his first start since April 2 against San Diego, a rough outing where he recorded just one out. Since, LeBrun had made three relief appearances, including a 3.0 scoreless outing May 1 at #2 UCLA. The start Wednesday night equaled his longest since going 8.0 innings Feb 21 at UC Davis while his four strikeouts were the most since fanning five March 10 at Arkansas. Additionally, the four hits allowed matches his low in a start, which also came at Arkansas.
- With a triple from Breshears in the top of the seventh, Gonzaga has tallied six three-baggers in the last five games, including three May 9 versus Pacific. The Bulldogs entered Wednesday leading the West Coast Conference in the stat and ranked 41st in the country. Eight different Zags have at least one three-bagger, and now five of them have at least two. Tyler Frost leads the team with four.
- Bigelow threw 2.0 shutout innings Wednesday night, putting him at 36.0 on the season. That tally surpasses his career high of 35.2 set last season. The redshirt senior already has set a career high in strikeouts this year, and he's on his way to posting a career low ERA as well, with a 1.75 mark entering the final weekend of the regular season. His previous best in that category is 2.86, which he set as a redshirt freshman in 2012.
- Wednesday night's game was just the sixth contest the Zags have played where both teams combined for three runs or less. The last such contest came May 1 at UCLA when the Bruins beat GU 3-0 in Los Angeles. Gonzaga is 2-4 in such games with the wins coming over Tulane and San Diego.
Mac Talk - Thoughts from GU head coach Mark Machtolf
"Calvin just pitched today. He didn't try to overthrow, located his fastball, and threw the change up well in positive counts. He also had a good breaking ball to left handed hitters. Overall, he just did a good job."
Next Up
Gonzaga (23-26, 12-12 WCC) will move onto a crucial WCC series at Pepperdine to round out the regular season. One and a half games out of fourth place in the conference standings, the Zags need a sweep of the Waves and a bit of help from other teams in order to advance to the WCC Championships for the third consecutive time. The first of the three-game set at Pepperdine is slated for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15th at Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu, Calif.
