Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash.--The Gonzaga University baseball squad slugged its way past Portland Friday night, collecting 11 hits for extra bases en route to an 18-1 win over their Pacific Northwest foes at Patterson Baseball Complex & Washington Trust Field.

The bats caught fire early as after starter Brandon Bailey retired the Pilots in order in the first inning, the Bulldog offense gave him ample run support in the bottom of the frame. Two of the first three Zags to bat reached base, and Tyler Frost batted in the game's first run with a grounder to second base. Portland second baseman Michael Forgione attempted to get lead runner Taylor Jones, but his throw sailed wide into left field, allowing Jones to reach third and Frost second on the play. Both runners came in on the next play, a double to left center from Justin Jacobs. In the next at bat, designated hitter Jarod Gonzales hit a ball deep to right field, clearing the fence for his first home run in a Gonzaga uniform and giving the Zags a 5-0 lead.

In the second, Jacobs brought home two more runs with a triple to center field for his third and fourth RBIs of the evening. Two more Zags came around to score in the third with an RBI single from Jace VanDeBrake and an RBI triple from Bohling.

Portland collected its first run in the fourth inning with a solo homer from Cooper Hummel. The score held at 9-1 until the bottom of the fifth Bohling tallied two more RBIs with a triple to left center. Gonzaga got one more in the frame with an RBI single from Frost.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Zags scored six runs to put the score at 18-1 with four hits for extra bases: doubles from VanDeBrake and Sam Brown, a home run by Bohling, and a triple from Frost. The triple from Frost came due to a collision between Portland shortstop Matt Kelly and left fielder Cody Hawken, however, as the two collided chasing down a fly ball late in the frame. The game was delayed for 31 minutes so the two could receive treatment.

Once play resumed, neither team scored, but the Pilots loaded the bases in the top of the ninth before reliever Trent Schulte struck out his final two batters faced for his first collegiate strikeouts, escaping from a bases-loaded jam and confirming the 18-1 victory. Bailey received the win, advancing to 5-1 on the year, while Portland starter Jordan Wilcox drew the loss.

Bulldog Bites:

• Gonzaga's 11 extra-base hits - five doubles, four triples, and two home runs - are the team's most this season. Their four triples are the program's most in a game since at least 2008, and Bohling's two three-baggers tie him with Brown for the most in a single game during that same span. The night alone raised Gonzaga's slugging percentage 20 points, from .422 to .442.
• Two Zags were just one hit away from a cycle Friday night as Bohling went 4-for-6 with a double, two triples, and a home run, scoring three times and bringing in five runs. Those five RBIs equal a career high, which he set earlier this year versus Texas Southern. Jacobs, meanwhile, was just missing the four-bagger as he had a single, double, and a triple in the first four innings. The Auburn, Wash., native posted four RBIs on the night - a season high - and scored once.
• The win is Gonzaga's fifth in a row and the Bulldogs' second five-game win streak of the year, sweeping Pacific April 1-3 and beating Washington State April 5. They also strung together five wins March 9 through March 18.
• Bailey turned in his seventh consecutive quality start, allowing just one run on four hits in six innings. He struck out six Pilot batters, continuing his streak of at least five Ks in all eight starts this season. He entered the game as the West Coast Conference leader and 11^th in the nation in strikeouts.
• Friday night's attendance of 1,533 was the fourth-highest at Patterson Baseball Complex, trailing just 16 behind the third-highest tally.

Mac Talk: Thoughts from Gonzaga head coach Mark Machtolf

• "Today was one of the better days we had offensively. From top to bottom, everyone contributed. We did a good job of hunting out pitches early in the count and much better job with two strikes. For nine innings, we were on task. We enjoyed it, but we also know that they're going to come back ready to go tomorrow. We have to have our same intensity tomorrow as well."

Next Up:

The Zags (18-10, 7-3 WCC) and Pilots continue the Northwest series Saturday, April 9, with another 6:05 p.m. contest at Patterson Baseball Complex. Gonzaga will turn to sophomore right-hander Eli Morgan while Portland sends fellow righty Davis Tominaga to the mound.