Gonzaga's Marco Gonzales threw 11 inning while striking out 15 against LMU

Saturday day night was a big night for WCC baseball. Gonzaga hosted LMU for the first ever ESPN network televised baseball game of the conference. At 7pm one of the most incredible performances of the season began on ESPNU.

Gonzaga sophomore Marco Gonzales and Loyola Marymount freshman Trevor Megill had one of the ultimate pitching duals. Megill is an early enrollee for the Lions, and showed a spectacular outing for seven innings as he struck out eight and did not give up an earned run.

Gonzales did something nearly unimaginable. He threw eleven innings—eleven! In his start, a no-decision I might add, the kid earned fifteen K’s, did not give up one earned run, had no walks, and threw 139 pitches. He was on fire, in the national spotlight. The WCC, Gonzaga, and anyone watching, couldn’t have asked for a better performance on the inaugural West Coast Conference-ESPN network opening night.

Even with Marco having the night of his life, it took pinch hitter Payden Cawley Lamb, to end the game in the bottom of the twelfth, as he hit a shot  into center field to bring home Andy Hunter for a 1-0 victory. Zach Abbruzza earned the win for the Bulldogs, tossing 22 pitches in the twelfth inning and striking out two.

It was electrifying. It is a wonder how one can freeze in Spokane for over three hours with no runs to be scored in that time period only to be on cloud nine moments later when one of the most incredible pitching performances one could witness in college baseball was rewarded with a win.

If Saturday’s game wasn’t a momentum builder, then I don’t know what is. Look for the Zags to take the series Sunday as they are now split with the Lions 1-1.

It’s one of those days that sports fans mark on their calendar—opening day of the college baseball season. Gonzaga headed to Arizona to face off with Nebraska in the first series of the year. The Bulldogs pulled out the win with a 7-4 victory.

Redshirt freshman Derek Peterson got the W for GU

Marco Gonzales started on the mound for the Zags. He pitched five innings and kept GU in the game, but did not have his best performance. The sophomore will likely start at first base Saturday, as he has a great glove and swing to go with his arm—Gonzales is basically one of the best all-around players in college ball.

The Zags led the game 1-0 at the end of the second inning thanks to Steven Halcomb driving in Andy Hunter with an RBI single. Nebraska took a 4-3 lead in the sixth, but Derek Peterson, a redshirt freshman, entered the game to replace Gonzales. Peterson clinched the win for GU.

 

Junior Clayton Eslick was 2-2 from the plate and scored 2 runs for the Zags

On the offensive side, Clayton Eslick filled in for Travis Forbes as the DH in the top of the 7^th. He     went 2-2 and scored two run in his short appearance for the Zags.

Eric Lane, Payden Cawley Lamb, and Maxx Garrett each drove in a run too. Senior center-  fielder Royce Bolinger brought in two teammates Friday night.

Freshman Zach Abbruzza closed the game for the Bulldogs—he didn’t relinquish a hit and struck out two Huskers in his two innings.

There really is no better feeling than starting off the season with a victory—the Zags did just that with great substitutions to seal the win. GU is on the road in various series around the country until March 16^th when they host their first game at the Patterson Baseball Complex against University of the Pacific.

The Oregon Ducks shut out the Bulldogs in the midweek matchup

Billy Moon has a 10 game hit streak going for the Zags. Some freshmen got some quality field time for the Bulldogs.

And that’s about all you need to know about the final two non-conference games Gonzaga played Tuesday and Wednesday.

At the University of Oregon, the Ducks blanked the Zags 6-0 Tuesday and 9-0 Wednesday.

In the first game, three Bulldogs notched hits: Billy Moon, Steven Halcomb, and Maxx Garrett. Starting pitcher Andy Hunter recorded five strikeouts in his four innings on the mound. He gave up only one run.

Wednesday’s afternoon contest was a little more productive in the hitting category for the Zags; yet scoring appeared to be unattainable.

As a team, they tallied seven hits. Moon rallied for two, as did Eric Lane. Freshmen Marco Gonzales and Payden Cawley Lamb each earned a hit. Sophomore Clayton Eslick collected the other Zag hit.

Gonzaga’s pitching crew showed their inexperience in the loss. Freshman Aaron Brooks started his first game of the season and gave up five earned runs in five innings.

There were two rare appearances on the mound for the Zags as redshirt sophomore Ryan Leahy and redshirt freshman Karl Myers filled in as relievers for two innings. Each gave up an earned run.

Senior Cody Martin closed the game for the Zags tossing the ninth inning.

Gonzaga closes out their 13 game road trip at Pepperdine this weekend. As the Bulldogs resume conference play against the Waves, their race for first place in the WCC resumes as well.