 |
Lions Fall to Gonzaga in Game One, 7-4
May 16, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU (22-31, 6-13) failed to record a baserunner over the first four innings of play, but did plate four runs over the final three innings, before falling 7-4 to Gonzaga (29-22, 9-9) in game one of a three-game West Coast Conference series being played at LMU's Page Stadium. Junior Brett Mendoza paced the Lion offense, finishing 3-for-4 with a double on the day. Sophomore Angelo Songco was the most productive hitter for LMU, batting 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Songco has now hit safely in eight straight games. Fellow sophomore Ryan Wheeler also connected on a home run en route to a 1-for-3 day with a walk, a run scored and two RBI. Freshman Martin Viramontes had a tough time over the first three innings in the start, but did settle down to post zeroes in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Viramontes tossed six innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and seven walks while striking out one batter before taking the loss and falling to 3-6. Junior Lee Roberts dealt two and a third innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) on five hits before giving way to Xavier Esquivel. The sophomore right-hander recorded the final two outs on the hill for LMU. Tyson Van Winkle led the Bulldog offense, batting 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Bryan Winston recorded two RBI and a run scored while finishing 2-for-4 at the plate. Jason Chatwood and Drew Heid each contributed a double in the victory, while Grant Kveder picked-up his first triple of the season.
Matt Fields was outstanding as the Bulldog starter, retiring the first 12 Lion hitters in the game. Fields walked Wheeler to start the fifth to end the consecutive string. The right-hander tossed seven and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters to improve to 8-3 on the season. Brandon Harmon failed to record an out in the eighth, allowing the home run to Wheeler and handing the ball over to C.J. McClure. McClure dealt the final inning and a third, shutting down the Lion offense in order in the ninth, to convert his second save of the season. Gonzaga got on the board quickly in the game, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. Chatwood singled with one out before back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Marcus McKimmy collected the sacrifice fly to bring home Chatwood and the first run of the frame before Mark Castellitto produced the RBI-single on the ensuing play to cap the scoring. The Bulldogs extended the lead to 4-0 with two more runs in the second. Van Winkle and Bryan Winston singled to start the ball rolling as Evan Wells walked to load the bases. The Lions traded a run for two outs on the ensuing play as Chatwood grounded into a double play to bring home Van Winkle. Heid came up clutch for Gonzaga on a 1-2 pitch in the next at bat, doubling down the right field line to score the fourth run of the game. Gonzaga plated a run for the third consecutive frame, posting a tally on two hits in the third. Kveder reached with a one-out single, moving to third on a Van Winkle double one pitch later. Winston picked-up the RBI on the very next pitch, lifting a ball to deep right field to bring home Kveder on the sacrifice fly. After three scoreless frames by both teams, the Bulldogs broke through with two more runs to push the lead to 7-0 after six and a half complete innings. With Roberts on the hill, Castellitto reached second on an error to lead things off. Kveder followed with a triple to drive in the first run before a Winston single two batters later ended the short scoring run. The Lions finally managed to push a run across against Fields with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the seventh. Songco squared-up a 3-1 pitch and drove it over the wall in centerfield for his team-leading 13th home run of the year. Fields did allow a double to Mendoza later in the inning, but LMU was unable to due any further damage in the run column. LMU scored three more runs with two out in the eighth to cut the deficit to 7-4. With two down and a runner at second base, Songco came up with the RBI-single to bring home the first run of the inning. Following a pitching change that brought Harmon into the game, Wheeler belted his fifth home run, and second in as many games, to bring home the second and third runs of the frame. The Lions managed to put runners at the corners before McClure settled down to record the final out in the inning without any further damage. LMU would go on to be retired in order in the ninth inning, succumbing to the 7-4 loss. The Lions have now lost seven straight games. LMU and Gonzaga will continue their three-game West Coast Conference series tomorrow at 1 p.m. LMU will send senior Andy Beal to the hill for the start, opposed by right-hander A.J. Proszek. |
