EUGENE, Ore. – A four-run first inning for No. 1-seeded Oregon proved to be the difference as Gonzaga fell 7-3 in Game Four of the Eugene Regional at PK Park in Eugene, Ore.
"I thought our kids battled, but the difference was four unearned runs in the first inning," Head Coach
Mark Machtolf said. "We hit some balls hard—no question—but we gave them some extra at-bats and they capitalized on it."
Oregon (39-14) opened the top of the first with a double to center field from leadoff Tanner Smith, yet two uncharacteristic errors, one by third baseman
Brett Harris and another from shortstop
Ernie Yake, led to the Ducks first score of the game. Oregon would drive in three more runs—all unearned—before Gonzaga starter RHP
William Kempner struck out Jack Scanlon to close the frame.
After a scoreless first fir the Bulldogs, the Zags'
Trystan Vrieling took the mound in the top of the second in relief, and a strikeout and two forced outs at first closed the top of the frame. The Zags again kept Oregon scoreless in the third, closing with another strikeout from Vrieling.
DH
Ryan Sullivan started things off the Gonzaga (34-18) in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle, while Yake followed with a double to center field to advance Sullivan to third. Harris reached on a hit by pitch, the 24th of the season, to load the bases with no outs. Sullivan scored the Zags' first run off a flyout from Rando, while a double from Orzel on the next at-bat scored both Yake and Harris, cutting the Ducks' lead to one.
Oregon extended its lead in the top of the fourth following a double from Aaron Zavala that scored Yovan who reached on a walk. Then Matthew Gabes connected for a home run, Oregon's sixth homer of the tourney thus far, to score two more runs and extend the lead to four once more, 7-3.
The next four innings were scoreless for both the Zags and the Ducks. RHP
Daniel Naughton relieved Vrieling in the top of the ninth; leadoff batter Smith singled to left center, but three-straight fly-outs retired the Ducks. The Bulldogs were unable to collect a hit in the final frame, leading to the 7-3 final score.
Vrieling pitched 7.0 innings for the Zags, finishing with seven strikeouts, six hits and three runs. Both Yake and Rando led the Zags with two hits apiece, while Orzel had a team-high two RBI.
The Zags return the field Sunday, June 6 in a must-win game against LSU at 3 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network. Live stats are available on GoZags.com.
