SEATTLE – The Gonzaga baseball team defeated Washington 3-0 on the road Tuesday evening at the Husky Ballpark in Seattle, Wash., for its seventh shutout of the season. That mark ties for the most shutouts in the country.
Gonzaga (23-13) used a two-run third inning to break away from a scoreless tie and a home run from
Gabriel Hughes to left field to secure the 3-0 victory.
On the mound, righty starter
Alec Gomez allowed just one hit and two walks in 7.0 innings of work while striking out five.
"Very happy with the effort today," Head Coach
Mark Machtolf said. "Just an outstanding effort from Gomez, and very happy with the way Jessee finished the game out. Thought we sung the bat better than when the box score showed. Enjoy it tonight and right back to work for BYU tomorrow."
In the top of the third, both
Ernie Yake and
Guthrie Morrison flied out, with
Brett Harris stepping to the plate with two outs. Harris was hit by a pitch, bringing his season total to 17 (which ties for the national lead). Then,
Andrew Orzel connected for a single to third and advanced on the throw, sending Harris to third. With runners on second and third,
Mason Marenco reached on a throwing error from Washington's shortstop, sending both Harris and Orzel home for the score.
Then, in the top of the fourth, Hughes connected for the solo homerun to push the lead to three.
Gonzaga retired three-straight batters in the fifth, sixth and seven innings; it wasn't until the eighth that the Huskies were able to get back on base.
Bradley Mullan replaced Gomez in the top of the eighth but walked his first two batters, leading to the quick pitching change that put
Brody Jessee on the mound. Jessee struck out his first two batters while UW's Will Simpson flied out to left field for the third out.
Jessee completed the save with two Ks in the final frame, sealing the 3-0 Zag win.
Gonzaga returns home to host BYU Thursday, April 22 at 6 p.m. at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Coach Steve Hertz Field. Check GoZags.com for up-to-date game time information.
