March 19, 2008

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Utah Valley dropped the rubber game of a three-game series, 7-2, at Gonzaga on cold and rainy Wednesday night. Despite out hitting the Bulldogs, 13-11, the Wolverines weren't able to come up with a big hit as they stranded 13 runners on the night.

Dan Christensen (1-3) took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits, including a decisive five-run third inning that catapulted Gonzaga to the win. CJ McClure (3-1) got the win after giving up just one run on eight hits and striking out five in five innings. Cody Martin struck out five UV hitters over the final two innings and finished the series with eight k's in three innings of relief.

The Bulldogs (12-8) got on the board in the third after a two-run double by Evan Wells down the left field line. Following a groundout, Marcus McKimmy singled home Wells and then stole second, avoiding a tag at second base after he was seemingly picked off. McKimmy stole third on the next pitch and then scored when Ryan Jones' throw to the plate was high following a pop-up into shallow right.

Tyson Van Winkle capped the scoring in the inning with a home run, his second of the year, to left field.

The Wolverines had a chance for a big inning in the fourth after loading the bases with nobody out. Brock Sargent hit a line drive the ricocheted off the umpire behind second base and ended as an RBI single. But McClure got Josh Hinckley to fly out to shallow right, struck out Cole Anderson and Jake Rickenbach grounded out to second to end the inning with just one run across plate.

Jace Brinkerhoff hit an opposite field home run with two out in the seventh, his second of the series and third of the season, to cut the lead to 5-2.

Gonzaga answered that run in the bottom of the seventh when McKimmy doubled to left center to scored Wells from first and added another in the eighth on Wells' third RBI of the day.

Kai Hatch had a career high four hits on a 4-for-5 night while Brinkerhoff had three hits, extending his hitting streak to 14 games. Jones' single in the ninth extended his streak to 12 games.

The Wolverines will travel to Seattle on Thursday for three games with Pac-10 Washington beginning Thursday at 6pm MT. UV will also play Portland on Friday as part of a doubleheader before finishing the week with Washington on Saturday.