March 10, 2018 Box Score
HOUSTON -- Gonzaga baseball split a doubleheader at Rice, taking the first game 7-5 and falling in the second 6-1, on Saturday in Houston, Texas.
The split snaps Gonzaga's six-game winning streak and moves the Zags' record to 8-5 on the season. Rice moved to 7-8 after the win in the second game.
"We came out ready today from pitch one and executed a lot of good things in game one all around," head coach Mark Machtolf said. "In game two, we started with the bats ready to go but just couldn't capitalize on a big first inning. Their starter settled in and kept us at bay all evening. We just gave up too many free bases to be able to sweep the day. Looking forward to the opportunity to win a big series tomorrow."
GU leads the four-game series with Rice 2-1 with the final game on Sunday at Reckling Park at 11 a.m. PT/1 p.m. CT. Live coverage links are available on the baseball schedule page at GoZags.com.
GAME 1: Gonzaga 7, Rice 5
Much like Friday night, the Zags built a lead and then held off a late Rice rally to win by an identical score of 7-5. Up 7-4 heading into the ninth, Rice loaded the bases with nobody out, but closer Casey Legumina induced a double-play that allowed a run to score. He then got the last batter to bounce up the middle where Carson Breshears made a diving stop and threw out the runner at first to end it.
On the mound, starter Daniel Bies continued his great start to the season, going 7.0 innings, giving up just three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Justin Blatner pitched the eighth giving up one run on one hit with a strikeout and a walk, before giving way to Legumina for the ninth for his third save.
Branson Trube was spectacular on offense, going 4-for-5 with two RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases. It was GU's second four-hit game of the year -- Yake had the other in the season opener -- and first game where a GU player had two stolen bases.
Gunnar Schubert collected two hits to move his hit streak to six games and his on-base streak to 12 games. He also scored twice and knocked in a run. Jake Vieth and Ernie Yake each collected two hits and an RBI on the day.
The Zags got on the board first with three runs in the visitor half of the second inning, only to be answered by three from Rice in the bottom half. It was RBI singles from Nyquist and Yake, and a bases-loaded walk by Vieth.
After a couple scoreless at-bats, GU grabbed the lead back with an RBI fielder's choice from Gunnar Schubert and a single from Branson Trube that knocked home a run.
The Zags added one more insurance run in the seventh with a sacrifice fly by Nyquist for his second RBI of the day, and again in the ninth on an RBI double from Trube.
GAME 2: Gonzaga 1, Rice 6
The Zags got on the board first in the top of the opening inning, but three runs from Rice in the third and one more in the fifth was enough to give the Owls a solid cushion in the seven-inning affair.
Trube continued his hot day with two more hits and Alek Jacob pitched all 6.0 innings on the mound for the Zags. He gave up six runs on seven hits, while striking out seven and walking three.
GU loaded the bases in the first inning, but managed just an RBI groundout for its 1-0 lead.
After not allowing a hit in the first two innings, Jacob was struck for three runs in the third inning by the Rice offense. The Owls collected three of their seven hits on the day in the frame.
GU put two runners on in the seventh with one out after singles by Nyquist and Johnston, but a pair of strikeouts ended the threat.
