Gonzaga University
Pacific
Sixth, Seventh Innings do in Zags against Pacific
5/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash.—The Gonzaga University baseball team held a 2-1 lead after five innings Friday night at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field, but a three-run sixth inning and four-run seventh by Pacific carried the Tigers over the Zags by a final score of 8-4.
The Zags broke onto the scoresheet first, pushing a run across in the bottom of the fourth. Taylor Jones scored when Jeff Bohling reached on a fielding error by Pacific second baseman Jimmy Gosano. Bohling picked up an RBI on the play, however, as Jones would have scored on the grounder regardless. The Tigers answered back in the top of the fifth with a leadoff homer from Jed Sprague, but Gonzaga took the lead back in the fifth with an RBI double from Cory LeBrun that allowed Sam Brown to score from second. The Zags then loaded the bases, but the home squad couldn't push across any more runs in the frame.
Pacific, meanwhile, scored three runs in the sixth to take the lead. The Tigers posted three consecutive RBI base hits in the frame, including a double from Brett Sullivan and a triple from Nate Verlin. After the Zags stranded two more batters in the bottom of the frame, Pacific added on four more runs in the seventh with a grand slam from Louis Meija. The four-run four-bagger was Meija's first home run of the year and gave Pacific an 8-2 advantage.
Gonzaga cut its' six-run deficit by two in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, LeBrun once again reached base with a single, and Bohling brought home the senior with a home run to right field, his first career homer. Gonzaga also got a triple by Tyler Frost in the inning, but the freshman was left on third base.
After the Bohling homer, redshirt senior Derek Peterson took over in relief of Andrew Sopko and held the Tigers scoreless in the final two innings. Peterson, who missed the 2014 season due to injury, made his season debut. Gonzaga, meanwhile, couldn't cut into the four-run lead and fell 8-4 in game one of the three-game set.
Bulldog Bites
- Peterson made his first appearance since May 20, 2013 Friday night, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings and allowing two hits while striking out one batter. He missed the 2014 season due to arm injuries. The redshirt senior has 31 career appearances with 22 of them coming in 2012 as a redshirt freshman. In 2012 he posted a 3.03 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched, and in 2013, he allowed just two unearned runs for a 0.00 ERA through eight appearances.
- Bohling's four-bagger in the seventh was his first career home run. The sophomore also equaled a career high with three RBIs, a feat he first accomplished April 24 of this season at Santa Clara. He broke into the starting lineup near the beginning of conference season and has started nearly every game since March 16.
- LeBrun collected three hits for the first time this season and sixth time in his career, equaling a career best. He's already set a career mark with 14 doubles this season, three above his old record, and he's 11 hits from a personal best as well. His batting average of .303 is only five points under the .308 he hit in 2013 during his first year at Gonzaga.
- Sopko allowed a season high eight runs on 10 hits tonight, including giving up two home runs. Entering tonight's contest, he'd only given up two home runs all year with 12 starts and 75.2 innings under belt.
Next Up
Gonzaga (21-24, 10-12 WCC) and Pacific will renew acquaintances Saturday, May 9, for game two of the three-game set. RHP Brandon Bailey will get the start for Gonzaga while Pacific will counter with RHP Will Lydon. First pitch for that game is slated for 6:05 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast regionally on SWX.
