TERRE HAUTE, Indiana- Gonzaga Baseball (7-11) tied the program record for scoring in a huge 23-16 win over Indiana State (7-12) on Sunday.
Gonzaga hit seven home runs, the most in a GU game since 2010. Ricky Sanchez especially stood out, tying a program record for home runs in a game with three. He had 9 RBIs, the most by a Zag in a single game in two decades.
There were twelve total home runs in the game, a result of an incredibly windy day. Wind speeds reportedly reached up to thirty to forty miles per hour in the direction of left center field.
The Zags opened the game with the first of those home runs, with Noah Meffert ripping a home run to left field to open the scoring floodgates. Indiana State scored four runs in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of an initial two walks and a hit batter with three hits, jumping out to a quick lead.
Tommy Eisenstat led off the second inning with a home run to deep left center field. Sanchez hit his first home run of the game to lead off the second inning. The Zags added another two runs in the inning after single and two straight walks loaded the bases to set up a Ryder Young two RBI double.
The Zags drew ten walks in today's game. Three straight walks in the top of the fifth set the stage for the Bulldogs to break the game open, as Sanchez hit a huge grand slam that traveled well over the left field foul pole to drive in another four runs.
Indiana State responded with two solo home runs of their own to tighten the lead to 10-7 in the fifth. Jacob Wrubleski hit yet another home run to lead off an inning, going deep to add a run in the seventh inning. Indiana State tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning after they got a grand slam from pinch hitter Nick Sutherlin. The Sycamores hit a two run home run later in the inning to take a 13-11 lead.
Noah Meffert had a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning. Meffert finished the game with two home runs, three runs, and three runs batted in. Indiana State hit a pivotal three run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to expand their lead.
In the top of the ninth the Zags scored a run on an infield single to cut the lead to three runs. Sanchez responded by hitting a clutch home run in the top of the ninth, crushing a three run homer for this third home run of the game to tie the contest.
Wrubleski opened the scoring in the top of the tenth with an RBI double. Landon White had a great at bat with the bases loaded, drawing a walk to drive in another run. Sanchez added his ninth RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly, and Bo Shinkle drew another bases walk to keep pushing up the scoring tally for the Zags. Meffert added another sacrifice fly, and Mikey Bell hit a double off the outfield wall to drive in Sanchez and Shinkle.
Justin Feld came up huge in relief to close out the ninth and tenth innings to force an extra frame. Feld picked up the win with 2.1 scoreless innings. He allowed only one hit while striking out three batters. He was the only pitcher in the game to not be credited with a run.
The Zags will travel to face San Diego next weekend. Gonzaga will look to continue the momentum from the series sweep of Indiana State for the pivotal matchup. San Diego was the only team picked above Gonzaga in the WCC preseason poll. First pitch is set for 6pm on Friday.
