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GU Downs WSU With Seven Run Eighth Inning
April 8, 2008
Spokane, Wash. - Down 8-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Gonzaga University baseball team rallied for seven runs in the frame to capture an 11-8 victory over Washington State University Tuesday night at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. A grand slam by Ryan Wiegand highlighted the inning, as the junior finished the night going 4-for-5 with four runs drive in and two runs scored. In the eighth, Gonzaga (17-14, 1-4 WCC) rallied behind four hits, an error, a walk and a hit-by-pitch to earn the win. Drew Heid, Tyson Van Winkle and Michael Rhodes, in addition to Wiegand, all recorded hits in the frame, while Heid, Evan Wells, Jason Chatwood, Wiegand, Van Winkle and Rhodes all scored in the inning. Wiegand's home run knotted the score 8-8, before Tyson Van Winkle, who reached on a double, scored the eventual game winning run on a triple by Rhodes. In addition to Wiegand and Rhodes, Mark Castellitto and Bryan Winston each earned RBIs during the frame. GU reliever Jeremy Stumetz (2-0) earned the victory as the sophomore was the pitcher of record when the Bulldogs took the lead. Stumetz pitched 2.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one. Cody Martin earned his team-leading sixth save of the season as the freshman pitched a perfect ninth inning, including two strikeouts. In total, four Bulldog pitchers combined for seven strikeouts without walking one Cougar (18-13) batter. WSU reliever Michael Ratigan (3-2) suffered the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits during 0.2 innings on the mound.
WSU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a two-run home run by Scott Suttmeier. Gonzaga responded in the bottom of the inning with one run on a solo shot to right by Castellitto. The Cougars extended their lead in the top of the third to 4-1 with a pair of unearned runs, before the Bulldogs narrowed their lead, once again, with a run in their half of the frame. Van Winkle drove in the inning run with a single to center, plating Wiegand who reached on a double. Gonzaga posted a run in the bottom of the fifth to narrow its deficit to 4-3, as Grant Kveder hit into a groundout that scored Chatwood. Washington State continued to widen its advantage in the top of the seventh with three runs to take a 7-3 edge. Murphy and Jared Prince each posted run-scoring hits in the inning as the Cougs sent eight batters to the plate. The Zags lessened the blow with a run in the bottom of the frame as Castellitto drove in Marcus McKimmy on a single down the left field line. Prior to Gonzaga's seven run explosion in the bottom of the eighth, WSU posted its final run of the game in the top of the inning thanks to a solo home run over the right field wall by Travis Coulter. The Bulldogs will resume West Coast Conference play Friday as the Zags welcome Santa Clara University to Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field for a crucial three-game series. The set will open Friday at 6:30 p.m. |
