SPOKANE, Wash. — No. 11 Gonzaga leaned on a dominant defensive effort behind starting RHP Alec Gomez and a measured approach at the plate en route to a midweek win over an in-state rival on Monday, downing Washington 5-2 at Patterson Baseball Complex.
In his first start since last year's Eugene Regional game against Louisiana State on June 6, Gomez held the Huskies to just one earned run in his time on the mound while matching a career high of seven innings pitched — set last year against UW in Seattle. Gomez was backed by a shutdown defensive effort that capitalized on 10 groundouts and 10 flyouts, and RHP Nico Zeglin (1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 K) and Jacob Rutherford (0.1 IP, 1 K) combined to close out the game with the lead still intact.
Connor Coballes led the way on offense, slamming his first homer of the season in the third frame to give GU an early lead for one of his team-high two knocks. Savier Pinales added two more RBI with a bases-loaded single, and three other Zags finished with at least a knock apiece in the winning effort.
The Action
Gomez was efficient from the beginning, holding UW hitless through the first two frames with just one walk. A bunt from UW's McKay Barney in the top of the third got the Huskies' first hit of the game, and the Zags took control in the bottom of the frame with a massive two-run homer from Connor Coballes — his first of the season — that scored himself and Johnson for an early 2-0 lead.
GU plated three more runs in the sixth in response after UW's Cam Clayton slammed a solo homer to get the Huskies on the board. A sac fly from Grayson Sterling brought Rando across to increase the lead back to two, and after Samperi was walked to juice the bases, Pinales came through with a deep single to center field that tacked on two more runs before Johnson flew out to left to end the inning.
After Gomez' departure, UW only picked up one hit — an RBI double that brought in their second run of the game. Rutherford took the mound with one out left, striking out Will Simpson to end the game.
Series at a Glance
With the victory, the Bulldogs are 64-80 against the Huskies all-time, but are winners of four straight against UW as well as the last four matchups in Spokane.
