Box Score

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-The Gonzaga University baseball team wrapped up a four-game trip to the California coast with a win Monday, downing UC Santa Barbara 4-1 at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The Zags opened the game's scoring account with a pair of runs in the third. Sam Brown led the frame with a bunt single to first base, and he came around when Daniel Fredrickson executed a hit-and-run play with a blooper down the left field line. Tyler Frost followed up with a single into left field, scoring the redshirt sophomore from second.

GU starting pitcher Mac Lardner, meanwhile, kept the Gauchos off the scoreboard through the first five innings, stranding two runners in both the first and the fifth. He came back out to start the sixth inning and got a ground ball from Armani Smith, but third baseman Jeff Bohling misplayed it, and Smith reached first base on the error. That was Lardner's final batter faced in the game, and Smith subsequently came home to score on a wild pitch, groundout, and single off reliever Calvin LeBrun. The junior from Phoenix, Ariz., allowed another base hit in the frame but escaped further damage with a lineout and a groundout.

The Bulldogs got that run back in the next half inning, however, after Brown once again led off by reaching base. He drew a seven-pitch walk from UCSB reliever AJ Woodall and then took second on a wild pitch. Fredrickson laid down a bunt to move the redshirt senior to third, and Frost sent a single through the right side of the infield for the RBI.

Brown and Frost once again combined for a run in the ninth, giving the Zags more insurance heading into the bottom of the ninth. Brown, the inning's leadoff batter, doubled down the first base line and advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt. Frost then hit a fly ball out to right field, allowing Brown to score for the 4-1 final.

Lardner earned the win, his third of the season, after 5.0 innings without an earned run. UCSB starter Ben Brecht took the loss after allowing two runs in six innings of work. Zag RHP Sam Hellinger earned the save, his first of the year, by shutting down the Gaucho bats during the final two innings.

Bulldog Bites:

• Both Brown and Frost collected three hits and reached base four times on the day with Brown scoring three runs on two singles, a double, and a walk, and Frost driving in three runs on three singles, a hit by pitch, and a sacrifice fly. Brown was inches away from a four-hit contest with a deep drive to left center field in the first inning, but UCSB centerfielder Tommy Jew made a diving catch to rob the Bulldog of extra bases.
• Lardner made his fourth start of the year, allowing just one unearned run while striking out five batters Monday. The freshman from Templeton, Calif., now has a 3.26 ERA in games he's started with seven earned runs allowed and 17 strikeouts.
• Hellinger picked up his first save of the season and third of his GU career with two scoreless innings. He struck out two batters and walked one more, that coming with two down in the eighth inning. It was just his fifth walk issued of the season and snapped a streak of eight outings and 13.0 innings without offering a free pass.
• Designated hitter Nick Brooks made the most of his ninth start of the year, posting a pair of singles from the eight-spot in the lineup. It's his first multi-hit game of the season and just his second start since the series at Cal State Fullerton four weeks ago.

Mac Talk: Thoughts from Gonzaga head coach Mark Machtolf

• "Both Frost and Brown swung the bat great today, and it was good to see because both have been swinging well with not a lot to show for it lately. Today they finally had a couple drop in for hits. We're looking forward to taking some momentum into the weekend versus San Diego."

Next Up:

The Zags (15-13, 6-3 WCC) return home and to West Coast Conference play this weekend with a three-game series against conference leader San Diego. The Toreros enter the series ranked No. 19 by D1Baseball and No. 20 by Collegiate Baseball. First pitch in that series will come at 6:05 p.m. on Friday, April 7, at Patterson Baseball Complex & Washington Trust Field.