May 2, 2008

Box Score

Spokane, Wash. - Drew Heid recorded three singles and Evan Wells extended his hit streak to 18 games as the Gonzaga University baseball team dropped a 7-5 West Coast Conference decision to the University of San Francisco Friday night at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. A five run fourth inning by the Dons proved to be the deciding factor in the game.

Gonzaga (287-19, 7-8 WCC) starter Matt Fields (7-3) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on ten hits over 5.1 innings. San Francisco (27-20, 9-7) starter Evan Fredrickson (5-2) earned the win, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out eight during 6.1 innings. The Dons' Mitchell Bialosky earned his fourth save of the season, holding the Zags hitless over the final two frames of the contest.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Wells and Jason Chatwood led off the inning with a walk and single, respectively, to put runners at first and second. Following a sacrifice, Wells came around to score on a ground out by Wiegand, before Chatwood was plated on an infield single by Heid.

Gonzaga extended its lead in the bottom of the third to 3-0 as Wiegand doubled to right center, scoring Marcus McKimmy.

USF exploded for five runs in the fourth, taking the 5-3 lead. Biaslosky, who started the game at first base, drove in the first two runs on a two-run home run to left field, before Zach Kim hit a solo shot in the next at-bat. Following two outs, a single and a walk, Joey Railey stepped in, smashing a double to left field to plate the other two runs of the frame.

The Dons added another run in the top of the fifth as Ryan Lipkin hit a one-run single to score Kyle Morgan, who led off the frame with a double. San Francisco added an insurance run in its half of the seventh when Morgan scored on a wild pitch.

Gonzaga rallied in the bottom half of the seventh but fell short, scoring two runs. McKimmy led off the inning with a hard hit solo home run to left field, before the next batter, Wiegand, smashed his team-leading 10th home run of the season. The Bulldogs continued to rally in the inning, but failed to score more runs, stranding the tying run at first base.

Heid led the Bulldogs on the day, going 3-for-5 with one run batted in. McKimmy and Wiegand also posted multiple hits as seven Zags in total recorded hits. Wells ended the game going 1-for-2 with a single and three walks to extend his streak.

The Bulldogs will look to even the three-game series with the Dons Saturday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.