UP TO BAT: The Bulldogs will wrap up a nine-game homestand at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field this weekend with a three-game West Coast Conference series against the University of Portland. The series will open Friday at 6:30 with contests Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

ON DECK: Gonzaga University will play two midweek contests next week before traveling to Moraga, Calif. for a three-game West Coast Conference series. Tuesday, the Bulldogs will travel to Pullman for the third game of a four-game season series with Washington State University. GU returns home Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. game with Lewis-Clark State College before heading out for a weekend series against Saint Mary's College. The WCC series with the Gaels will open Friday at 3 p.m. before games Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

LAST OUTING: Gonzaga University earned a two-game sweep of visiting University of Washington, as the Zags wrapped up five games its five days. In the series opener, Gonzaga exploded for 18 hits as it sent 17 batters to the plate. Mark Castellitto and Jason Chatwood each posted three hits a piece in the contest. In total seven batters recorded multiple hits for GU. Tuesday, Ryan Wiegand and Castellitto each hit two-run home runs each as the Bulldogs earned the sweep with an 8-4 victory. Jeremy Stumetz earned the victory in his first start of the season. The sophomore is now a perfect 2-0 in career starts against the Huskies.

LAST WCC OUTING: The Gonzaga University dropped a crucial three-game West Coast Conference series to visiting Santa Clara University last weekend in Spokane. The Zags allowed five home runs accounting for 10 runs Friday night as they dropped a 12-4 decision to the Broncos. Gonzaga rebounded Saturday, earning a 5-4 victory as freshman Cody Martin tied the GU single season save record with his seventh save of the year. In the rubber match Sunday, the Bulldogs played catch-up the entire game until SCU broke open the score with five runs over the sixth and seventh innings to earn a 9-5 victory.

Military Day, Youth Day, Reuse-A-Shoe Promotions: This weekend, the Gonzaga University baseball games will feature three promotions for Zag fans. Friday will mark Military Day, while Saturday celebrates Youth Day. Both days will also feature the Reuse-A-Shoe program. On Military Day, all current and former military personnel, as well as families will receive free admission with a military issued ID. In honor of Youth Day on Saturday, all kids 12 and under will get into the game for $1. In addition, the first 500 kids will receive a free bag of sunflower seeds. There will also be an autograph session following the game. Both days, fans are encouraged to bring any pair of old tennis shoes to donate to the Reuse-A-Shoe program. The shoes will then be recycled into materials used in playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts and athletic fields.

SCOUTING THE PILOTS: The University of Portland travels to Spokane looking to improve on a 17-20 record, including 2-7 in West Coast Conference play. The Pilots are fresh off of a 7-0 shutout over visiting Lewis-Clark State College Wednesday in Portland. Last weekend, in league play, Portland dropped three games to then-No. 13 University of San Diego at home. The Pilots are led by shortstop Riley Henricks. Henricks is boasting a .344 average with a team-leading 14 doubles and 22 runs batted in. On the mound, Mark Triolo paces the Pilots' starting rotation with a 4-3 record and a 3.55 earned run average and 42 strikeouts. Gonzaga University leads the all-time series 96-60, with Portland earning a 12-7 victory earlier this season.

THIS SEASON VS. PORTLAND: Gonzaga University and the University of Portland have met on the diamond once already this season. The Pilots won the contest 12-7 as part of the 2008 Johnny Quick Classic. Tyson Van Winkle led the Zags on the afternoon, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and one batted in. Anthony Synegal drove in three runs in the eighth inning thanks to a bases-clearing double as the Bulldogs rallied for five in the frame.

LAST SEASON AGAINST THE PILOTS: Last season, in a three-game West Coast Conference series at the University of Portland, Gonzaga University took the two-of-three games from UP. The Pilots grabbed the series opener Thursday 9-1 before the Zags swept a doubleheader Sunday 7-4, 6-0. Brandon Harmon led the Bulldogs on the mound, throwing a two-hit complete game shutout en route to earning WCC Co-Pitcher of the Week accolades. At the plate, Ryan Wiegand hit .600 with four runs batted in on six hits.

LIVE ON THE RADIO: The Gonzaga University baseball team will have nine remaining games aired live on the radio in the greater Spokane area this season. University of Portland, Oregon State University, University of San Francisco series and one game against Washington State University will be aired live on 1510 KGA. The broadcasts will begin 15 minutes prior to the scheduled first pitch. Calling games for the Bulldogs will be Tom Hudson.

LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University home games and select away games will be available via Gametracker on the internet at http://www.gozags.com. Check the Bulldogs' web site for all Gametracker links.

BULLDOG BASEBALL ON TELEVISION: Two remaining Gonzaga University West Coast Conference baseball games will be aired on GUTV this season. Games this Friday and Saturday against the University of Portland will all be aired live on the campus station, which can also be found in Spokane on cable channel 15.

MARTIN NAMED CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Freshman Cody Martin has been named the West Coast Conference Co-Pitcher of the week for the week of April 14. Last week, the freshman earned two saves, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out four in 3.1 innings. His save last Saturday against Santa Clara University tied the school record for single season saves with seven. The honor is the first time this season a Bulldog pitcher has been named WCC Pitcher of the Week. Earlier in the season Grant Kveder and Marcus McKimmy were each awarded Player of the Week accolades.

CASTELLITTO HEATS UP AGAINST HUSKIES: Mark Castellitto continued his strong sophomore campaign this week as he hit .714 against the University of Washington. Castellitto went 5-for-7 with a double, two home runs, five runs batted in and four runs scored. For the season the native of Poway, Calif. is hitting way above his .277 career average. He is currently batting .341 in 26 games.

GONE STREAKING: Sophomore transfer Drew Heid enters the weekend looking to extend a season-leading 11 game hit streak. The streak is the longest of the season for any Bulldog batter this year. Heid has been hitting at a .385 clip during the span. For the season, the native of Goldendale, Wash. is maintaining a .309 average. Also posting notable streaks are Evan Wells and Ryan Wiegand. Wells will be looking to extend a nine game streak, while Wiegand has strung together hits in eight consecutive matches.

ROOKIE TIES SINGLE SEASON RECORD: Freshman Cody Martin will be looking to become the Gonzaga University single season saves leader this week. Saturday, Martin pitched 2.1 innings allowing no runs on two hits to tie the 26-year old school record of 7 saves. The native of Dos Palos, Calif. is now tied with Randy Bostic (1982) for the record.

TRANSFER LEADS GU IN LEAGUE PLAY: Sophomore transfer Drew Heid paces the Gonzaga University baseball team in league play, boasting a 407 average in eight contests. Heid has gone a team-leading 11-for-27 with one double and four runs scored. The outfielder is also a perfect 2-for-2 on the base paths during West Coast Conference action.

WIEGAND DOUBLES HIS WAY INTO ALL-TIME RANKS: Ryan Wiegand posted four doubles in the three-game series with Santa Clara University, propelling him into the career doubles ranks. For his career, the junior has recorded 44 doubles, placing him ninth on the all-time list. Thanks to his efforts last weekend, Wiegand surpassed both Mac Gebbers (1978-82) and Don Lyons (1973-76) to enter the list. Gebbers and Lyons were listed at ninth and tenth with 43 and 42 doubles, respectively. The Gonzaga record holder for career doubles is Jerrod Wong (1993-96), who posted 59 all-time doubles.

CASTELLITTO EARNS STARTING SPOT: Sophomore Mark Castellitto has earned a starting spot in the Gonzaga University line-up this season thanks to his offensive efforts. Castellitto is fourth on the team with a .341 average with 28 hits, 16 runs and 17 runs batted in. Castellitto is also second on the squad with six home runs, including home runs in GU's past two contests. Of his six long balls, four have been two-run shots, with the other two as solo home runs.

HARMON PITCHES HIS WAY INTO ALL-TIME LIST: Senior Brandon Harmon has tossed 263.4 career innings, including a team-leading 52.2 frames this season. His all-time innings pitched currently places him ninth in the career record books. Recently he surpassed Eric Dworkis (2002-04) and Gregg Harris (1983-86) on the lists. Both Dworkis and Harris were tied for 10th with 250.0 IP. The school record for innings pitched is held by Mike Mahoski (1977-80) who logged 373.1 career innings pitched.

WIEGAND DRIVES TOWARDS CAREER LIST: Ryan Wiegand, first baseman for the Zags, continues to be a run producer for Gonzaga University as the junior has driven in 46 runs this season. For his career, the native of San Diego has posted 135 RBI, leaving him eight short of cracking the career top-ten. For his career, Wiegand has posted 39 multiple-RBI games, including 14 during the 2007 campaign. This season, Wiegand has posted 15 multiple-RBI games, including driving in six runs on Mar. 9 at the University of the Pacific.

HARMON MOVES UP IN RECORD BOOK: Senior pitcher Brandon Harmon has moved into sole possession of second place in the Gonzaga University record book for career appearances. Harmon, who has started eight games this season and made four relief appearances, was tied for fourth with Craig Miller (1979-82) with 67 appearances to start the season. The senior currently stands at 79 appearances. Recently, he replaced Tyrone Cunningham (1986-89), who stood at 71, for second place. Harmon is now two appearances short of breaking the all-time appearance record of 81 appearances, held by Matt Siwek (1996-00).

MACHTOLF COACHES NO. 250: Last Sunday's contest against Santa Clara University was the 250th game for head coach Mark Machtolf. Machtolf, who is in his fifth year of head coach and 18th with the program, has earned 132 career victories for a .528 winning percentage - the third highest in program history. During his 17-year tenure, Machtolf has overseen 69 All-West Coast Conference selections, four All-America selections, six Freshman All-America selections and six Academic All-America honors. He has also helped to coach 33 Zags who went on to sign professional contracts, including 22 that were drafted into Major League Baseball.

CONTINGENCY PLAN: Due to inclement weather in Spokane, the scheduled three-game West Coast Conference series between Gonzaga University and Pepperdine University that was scheduled for the last weekend of March had to be modified. The series was shortened to a two-game set in Spokane. The third game of the series will be played, if needed, later in the season should the game be necessary to determine seeding for the WCC Championship. Most likely, the game will be made up at a neutral site in Southern California at the end of the season when the Zags take their already scheduled trip Los Angeles to face Loyola Marymount University May 16-18.

McKIMMY NAMED WCC CO-PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Marcus McKimmy, an outfielder for Gonzaga University, was named the West Coast Conference Co-Player of the Month for March. McKimmy led the Zags to a 13-7 mark in March as the senior went 33-for-79 to hit at a .418 clip. The senior led GU with 22 hits and 25 runs scored while posting six doubles, three home runs and 25 runs batted in. The native of Yakima, Wash. recorded nine multiple-hit games, including seven contests with three hits. Following a player of the week accolade on Mar. 24, he closed out the month with a eight game hit streak. McKimmy shared the monthly honor with Pepperdine University's Eric Thames.

McKIMMY EARNS NATIONAL HONORS: Marcus McKimmy continues to post an impressive senior campaign as he has earned West Coast Conference Player of the Week and Month accolades this season. In addition, the native of Yakima, was named the West Region Player of the Week by www.collegebaseballinsider.com and www.collegebaseballhub.com for the week of Mar. 17. McKimmy was awarded the honors after batting .423 during the week.

ZAGS EARN WEEKLY WCC HONORS: Grant Kveder and Marcus McKimmy of the Gonzaga University baseball team have each been awarded West Coast Conference Player of the Week Accolades this season, while Cody Martin was named this week's WCC Co-Pitcher of the Week. Kveder earned the honor on Mar. 17 as the junior led GU to the 2008 Pepsi/Johnny Quick Classic title after batting at a .500 clip with five runs batted in, five runs scored and two stolen bases. McKimmy earned the honor on Mar. 14 as the senior led the Zags to series victories over Utah Valley University and Sacramento State University. During the week, he hit .423, going 11-for-26, with four doubles, a home run and 13 runs batted in. Last week, Martin earned two saves while allowing no runs on two hits in 3.1 frames.

KVEDER NAMED TOURNAMENT MVP: Junior Grant Kveder of the Gonzaga University baseball team was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Pepsi/Johnny Quick Tournament. Kveder was named the MVP after posting an impressive .500 batting average during the six-game event. The Alberta native went 10-for-20 with five runs batted in, five runs scored and two stolen bases. Nine of Kveder's 10 hits came as singles and the junior recorded only one extra-base hit - a double. Kveder's strongest performance at the tournament was a 5-for-5 outing against New Mexico State University on Mar. 14. In the 17-10 Bulldog win, Kveder also drove in three runs while scoring three.

ZAGS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH: The Gonzaga University baseball team has been selected to finish fifth in the 2008 West Coast Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches. Reigning WCC Champion, University of San Diego, received seven first place votes and a total of 49 points to edge out the Pepperdine University, 42 points, and Santa Clara University for first place. The Broncos also received one first place vote and 32 total points. Loyola Marymount University checked in at fourth with 29 points, just edging out the Zags, who received 28 points. The University of San Francisco was tabbed for a sixth place finish with 24 points, while University of Portland and the Saint Mary's College were picked to finish seventh and eighth with 12 and eight points, respectively.

TICKETS TO PATTERSON BASEBALL COMPLEX AND WASHINGTON TRUST FIELD: The gates to Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field will open one hour prior to the scheduled game time. Tickets are available before the game at the ticket booth located at the northeast corner of the ballpark. Admission is five dollars for adults and three dollars for seniors and kids 12 and under.

BULLDOGS EXCEL IN CLASSROOM: Two members, including one current member, of the Gonzaga University baseball team were awarded All-West Coast Conference academic accolades last season. Former Bulldog Aaron McGuinness and current second baseman Evan Wells each earned the distinction. McGuinness earned a 3.48 grade point average in exercise science while Wells posted a 3.95 GPA in journalism, which also placed him on the University's president's list.

PATTTERSON BASEBALL COMPLEX AND WASHINGTON TRUST FIELD: The 2008 season marks the second year of play at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. The new home of Bulldog baseball is a state-of-the-art facility that also incorporates an old-time baseball feel. The new stadium includes 1,300 theater-style seats and includes classic brick detailing. Major League amenities include a state-of-the-art infield, a professional candle lighting system and authentic home and visitor dugouts with underground passages to full-service clubhouses. The first game at the new facility was March 15, 2007 against Rider University. The facility also features eight light poles, two which are 90 feet tall while the other six stand at 80 feet. Dedication ceremonies were held April 20, 2007 prior to the game against Saint Mary's College.

HEAD COACH Mark Machtolf: Mark Machtolf is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Gonzaga University baseball and 17th season as a member of the Bulldogs' coaching staff. Since being named head coach, Machtolf has posted a 134-118 record for a .532 winning percentage, placing him third all-time in Gonzaga history. During his tenure with the Zags', he has led the Zags to four-top five finishes and produced the 2004 WCC Player of the Year, Kiel Thibault, and the 2007 WCC Pitcher of the Year, Clayton Mortensen. He has overseen 33 Zags who have signed professional contracts, including 22 that were drafted into the Major Leagues. Under his guidance, Gonzaga has also landed 69 all-conference selections in addition to 15 All-WCC Academic honors. During the summer of 2006, Machtolf served as an assistant coach for Team USA. Under his guidance, the team posted a 28-2-1 record, including going a perfect at 8-0 record the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World Championships in Havanna, Cuba. A 1987 graduate of Stanford University, Machtolf was a member of the Cardinal's 1987 College World Series championship team and was an All-CWS selection.