Box Score PULLMAN, Wash. — Gonzaga dominated Washington State Tuesday afternoon at Bailey-Brayton Field, picking up five hits and capitalizing off 10 walks from five different pitchers to build a 9-0 lead before the game was called in the top of the sixth due to a leg injury to Zags catcher Stephen Lund.
 
With five complete innings, the game counts as an official win for the Bulldogs (20-12).
 
Hitting leadoff for GU, Ernie Yake produced two hits and two RBI with a run, while Brett Harris picked up two RBI and two runs with a single hit. Four Zags, including Harris, were walked twice, most of which came in a game-shifting seven-run fifth that featured only two hits.
 
Freshman RHP Daniel Naughton attacked the strike zone for three innings in his first career start, handling the Cougs' lineup for three scoreless innings with 24 strikes on 35 total pitches. Naughton finished with two K's while giving up four hits, and RHP Nico Zeglin (3 K's)  kept the shutout effort going with two more hitless frames before the game was ended.
 
For the second game in a row, the Bulldogs put two runs on the board within the first three at-bats. Hitting leadoff, Yake singled to right center to get on base, but was put out at second while Morrison reached first on a fielder's choice. Harris erupted for a homer in the next at-bat to score them both and make it 2-0 Zags. 
 
The Cougars picked up some steam in the second when Jack Smith produced a double and Justin Van De Brake reached first on an error with no outs, but Naughton retired three-straight to get out of the jam and close the frame without any damage.
 
Kolby Kmetko was replaced in the middle of the third by Will Sierra after Morrison and Tyler Rando reached first and second on walks. Sierra proceeded to strike out Orzel swinging and Jacob McKeon snagged a wind-lifted line drive from Lund to strand both baserunners.
 
Naughton picked up the first strikeout of the third, but Manzardo reached scoring position after a deep single was fumbled in the outfield. RHP Nico Zeglin took Naughton's place on the mound, retiring Collin Montez and Tristan Peterson to keep the Cougs off the board again going into the fourth.
 
Both relievers battled to a standstill in the fourth to generate six consecutive outs.
 
Sierra kept rolling from his hot start for a 1-2-3 inning with Jack Machtolf, Mason Marenco and Grayson Sterling all grounding out in order, while Zeglin stuck with deceptive off-speed pitches and replicated Sierra's feat in the bottom of the frame, striking out Smith swinging and getting Van De Brake and Jake Meyer out at first for another quick three outs.
 
But the Zags opened the floodgates with seven runs in the next frame — doing so without picking up a single hit on the first two, collecting seven walks off four pitchers while churning out baserunners to put the Cougars in a 9-0 hole.
 
Returning to the top of the GU lineup, Yake reached scoring position on an error and Harris was walked after battling through a 2-2 count with three straight fouls. Both went for a double steal in the next at-bat and converted to move to second and third (the fourth of the year for both) before Rando was walked to juice the bases with one out.
 
Ozel flew out to score Yake and get Harris to third, and Lund was walked to load the bases yet again before WSU made another pitching change in need of just one more out to keep the Zags to just the one run.
 
But WSU reliever Elias Farland walked Jack Machtolf and Marenco to score two more unearned runs, and Sterling deposited an offering from his replacement, Ethan Ross, in the middle of center field to drive in two more and push the lead to seven.
 
As order returned to the top with two outs still on the board, GU's batters were just as difficult to strike out as the first time round. Yake followed with another gap-splitting single in the next at-bat to score the remaining runners, and Morrison and Harris were both walked to once again threaten to score. Rando was struck out to finally end the inning with a 9-0 score.
 
Zeglin got three quick outs again in the sixth, but after Lund's injury in the bottom of the frame, both coaches agreed to end the game early with five complete innings in hand.
 
Next Up
 
In sole possession of first place in the standings, Gonzaga travels to Malibu, Calif., this weekend for three games with Pepperdine — the team picked to win the West Coast Conference pennant race in the preseason. The Waves (11-11, 4-2 WCC) have had their last five games wiped out due to COVID, including a three-game series with Pacific postponed until later in the season. 
 
Follow the Game
Friday's game is set for a 3 p.m. start, with Saturday and Sunday's matchups starting at 1p.m. Live streaming will be available via the WCC Network. Check GoZags.com for up-to-date game information and live stats.