Gonzaga Baseball Heads South to Open Season

[TerpZag]

Baseball Heads South to Open Season

GU will play four games in the Surprise, Ariz., Tournament


Feb. 15, 2018


Fri., Feb. 16 | 4:00 p.m. PT | Gonzaga vs. Cal Poly
RHP Daniel Bies (0-0, -.-- ERA) vs. RHP Michael Clark (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Sat., Feb. 17 | Noon PT | Gonzaga vs. Oregon State
RHP Mac Lardner (0-0, -.-- ERA) vs. TBA

Sun., Feb. 18 | 4:00 p.m. PT | Gonzaga vs. New Mexico
RHP Alek Jacob (0-0, -.-- ERA) vs. RHP Drew Gillespie (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Mon., Feb. 19 | 9:00 a.m. PT | Gonzaga vs. Cal Poly
TBA vs. RHP Darren Nelson (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Click Here For Live Stats


NEW LOOK GONZAGA:

- Gonzaga has 35 players on the 2018 roster: 21 returners (18 who saw action at least once last season) and 14 newcomers...three Zags redshirted last season.
- The Zags return four starting fielders (Jake Vieth, Gunnar Schubert, Daniel Fredrickson, and Troy Johnston)...furthermore, six other returners saw time in the starting lineup last season.
- From the rotation, RHPs Daniel Bies and Casey Legumina and LHP Mac Lardner all spent a significant part of 2017 as starters...LHPs Calvin LeBrun and Justin Blatner also each started one game.
- Of the newcomers, nine are freshmen and five are transfers...redshirt juniors Carson Breshears and Slade Heggen came to GU from Gonzaga, junior Austin Pinorini from Bellevue Collge, junior Taylor Davis from Lower Columbia College, and Matthew Henckel from Tacoma Community College.

ONE LAST LOOK BACK:

- Gonzaga captured its second consecutive share of the West Coast Conference title last season, ending WCC play with a 20-7 record after sweeping BYU in the final series...the Zags shared the title with BYU and Loyola Marymount.
- Overall, GU went 33-20 in 2017...they reached the title game of the WCC Championship tournament.
- Head coach Mark Machtolf was named WCC Coach of the Year after leading the Zags to their fourth WCC title since 2009...he also picked up his 400th career victory in April 2017...he's No. 2 in Gonzaga history and No. 6 in WCC history (third among active coaches) with 417 career wins.
- Junior RHP Eli Morgan picked up various All-America honors as well as Second Team All-Region and First Team All-WCC honors...five others received some sort of All-WCC accolades, including Daniel Fredrickson's Honorable Mention and Troy Johnston's All-Freshman Team designations. - Morgan was one of six Zags selected in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft...in all, nine Bulldogs signed pro deals after the season.

HAPPY NEW YEAR:

- This is the 17th consecutive season the Zags have started the year in a warm-weather climate (since 2002)...they've played nine season openers in Arizona since 2003, including four of the last five (2014: Tucson, 2016: Phoenix, 2017-18: Surprise).
- They've also played at Surprise Stadium eight times since 2003...they're 13-12-1 in Surprise since the turn of the century.
- The Zags are 4-4 in season openers since 2010...last year, they beat Duke 6-1 in the first game of the season before falling to Indiana later in the day...they're 14-15 during the first weekend of competition during that stretch.

SCHEDULING NOTES:

- Gonzaga will play 12 games against teams who won conference titles last season (Oregon State, New Mexico, Rice, BYU, Loyola Marymount) and 11 against those who reached the NCAA Tournament (Oregon State, Rice, BYU, Stanford).
- The Zags start 2018 with a seven-game road trip to Surprise, Arizona, and Irvine, California...this is the shortest road trip to begin the season since 2008 as the Zags have their home opener scheduled for March 2 against Milwaukee...that series will be the earliest set of home games for GU since hosting BYU from Feb. 28-March 1 that year.
- Last year, the Zags played 17 on the road before a March 17 season opener...in 2014, they began with a 23-game road swing, and that number was 25 in 2006.
- In all, the Zags play 19 games at Patterson Baseball Complex & Washington Trust Field...nine of those games will take place April 27 or later, including two of the final three WCC series.

PLAYING THE TOURNAMENT FIELD:

- Cal Poly returns 19 letterwinners from last season's team that finished second in the Big West...eight who saw significant time in the starting lineup come back, including hits leader Alex McKenna and RBIs leader Kyle Marinconz...the Mustangs did lose staff ace Spencer Howard to the MLB draft but do return two starters and closer Michael Clark, who earned Second Team All-Big West honors with 11 saves, a 5-0 record, and a 2.59 ERA.
- Gonzaga is 0-1-1 against Cal Poly, losing 6-1 last year in San Luis Obispo, California...the first meeting between the two clubs came in 2003 when they tied 8-8 at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic in Fresno.
- Oregon State finished the 2017 season with a 56-6 record, tying for fourth in NCAA Division I history with a .903 winning percentage. The Beavers advanced to their sixth College World Series, and finished 2-2 in Omaha to place third nationally, per the polls.
- The Zags will finally meet the Beavers after losing two games last year to inclement weather...the former Pac-10 North division-mates have played 92 times since 1970 with OSU leading the series 32-60...the Beavers have won the last five games between the Pacific Northwest clubs, but that stretch followed a six-game GU win streak.
- The defending Mountain West regular-season champion University of New Mexico baseball team will again picked to be the favorite to win the MWC. The Lobos had three players make the Preseason All-Mountain West Team in senior outfielder Danny Collier, junior outfielder Jared Mang and junior pitcher Christian Tripp. - GU is 3-3 against New Mexico with both clubs sweeping a home series earlier this decade...the Bulldogs won all three games at Patterson Baseball Complex in 2011 while the Lobos returned the favor at Albuquerque in 2012.

PITCHING LINES:

- RHP Daniel Bies is coming off a career year in 2017...as a redshirt sophomore, he tallied career highs in nearly every category...he started nine games, going five innings or more five times and allowing three or fewer runs in six...his best performance came out of the bullpen, however, on April 30 when he tossed five shutout innings in a 12-11 walkoff victory against Saint Mary's.
- LHP Mac Lardner started six of his 13 appearances as a freshman...his best start came in his very first one with one run allowed and eight strikeouts in six innings versus Duke Feb. 18...he also ended the year well, allowing one run in six innings of work at the WCC Championships May 27...overall, he posted a 3-1 record as a rookie with 37 strikeouts and a 3.99 ERA, the best of GU's returning starters.
- RHP Alek Jacob is a freshman from Spokane, marking the second straight year GU has a freshman starting an opening-weekend game...Jacob started all four years at North Central HS, earning All-Greater Spokane League honors three times...as a senior, he posted a 0.90 ERA and 63 strikeouts...he led the league in strikeouts and tallied Second Team All-State accolades as a junior.

Gonzaga Article Link

[TerpZag]

Gonzaga loses to Cal Poly 8-7 in 10 innings...

Zags led 7-2 after 8 innings...Zags had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs in the bottom of the 10th but could not score...

[TerpZag]

Baseball Falls in Extras 8-7 to Cal Poly

Gonzaga racked up 16 hits in the game, led by Ernie Yake's four


Feb. 16, 2018

Box Score


SPOKANE, Wash. -- Gonzaga baseball suffered a tough, extra-inning loss in its season opener, going down 8-7 in 10 innings to Cal Poly in the Surprise Tournament in Surprise, Ariz., on Friday night.

With a 7-2 leading heading into the ninth, GU gave up five unearned runs to head to extra innings, where they weren't able to equal the Mustangs' 10th inning run.

"That was a tough way to finish out that game," head coach Mark Machtolf said. "We played really good baseball for eight innings, but we weren't able to finish the game out. More importantly, we get a chance tomorrow to show how resilient we are and come out and give Oregon State our best shot."

GU pounded out 16 hits on offense, led by Ernie Yake, who made his Gonzaga debut with a huge offensive night in the leadoff spot. The redshirt freshman went 4-for-6 with a double and two runs scored. Branson Trube and Jace VanDeBrake each knocked in two runs, and Troy Johnston scored twice.

Five Zags had at least two hits in the game, including Yake's four, three by Daniel Fredrickson and two each by Trube, VanDeBrake, Troy Johnston and Carson Breshears.

Redshirt junior starter Daniel Bies avoided the big inning with timely strikeouts on his way to the victory. He tied a career-high going six innings, giving up just two runs on six hits to go along with a career-high seven strikeouts.

The bullpen was solid through the seventh and eighth, but got into trouble after a pair of GU errors in the ninth, giving up five unearned runs that tied the score at 7-7.

The Zags' big third inning got the scoring started. A pair of RBI singles from Johnston and Trube were sandwiched around a Jake Vieth sacrifice fly to put GU up 3-0 after three innings.

After Cal Poly pulled within one a solo homer in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth, Gonzaga's bullpen came in with back-to-back shutdown innings. Calvin LeBrun went 1.1 scoreless, and Taylor Davis entered with one out in the eighth and got out of a jam with the Zags still up 3-2.

GU's offense then came back to life, putting runners on the corners in the bottom of the eighth with two out. Trube picked up his second RBI single of the day, and after Fredrickson reached on an error, Jace VanDeBrake made the Mustangs pay with a two-out, two-RBI single for a 6-2 lead. Gonzaga added one more in the frame when Fredrickson scored on a wild pitch to head to the ninth with a 7-2 lead.

Down one heading into the 10th, GU put the first two runners aboard, but a strikeout and a double play ended the night.

The Zags will be back on the field in Surprise, Ariz., on Saturday as part of a four-game tournament taking on Oregon State at Noon PT. Links to live stats will be available on GoZags.com.

Gonzaga Article Link

[TerpZag]

Gonzaga vs. Oregon St. Live Stats Link

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Oregon St. 4 - Gonzaga 3 Final Game Stats

Oregon St. scores 2 in the bottom of the 8th to break a 2-2 tie...Zags can only score 1 run in their half of the 9th while leaving a runner stranded at 3rd base...

[TerpZag]

Baseball's Late Rally Falls Short vs. No. 2 Oregon State, 4-3

Mac Lardner went a career-high 6.2 innings on the mound for GU


Feb. 17, 2018

Box Score


SPOKANE, Wash. -- Gonzaga's baseball team battled No. 2 Oregon State to the end in a 4-3 loss on Saturday afternoon at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz.

Down 4-2 heading into the ninth inning, GU put the first two runners on base and pulled within one run on a wild pitch. But, with a runner on third and one out, GU's late rally came up short against last year's College World Series participant OSU.

"We did a good job of battling today," head coach Mark Machtolf said. "We had some opportunities that we weren't able to capitalize on. Mac Lardner and some strong defense definitely gave us a good chance to win today."

GU got a quality start for the second straight day as sophomore Mac Lardner pitched his way through a career-high 6.2 innings. Despite five walks, Lardner held the potent Beaver offense to just five hits and struck out four while giving up just two earned runs.

The Zags got on the board first for the second straight day, notching a pair of runs in the third inning. Carson Breshears ripped a double down the left field line to score Jace VanDeBrake. Breshears then came home on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

Oregon State countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the third, and RBI single in the sixth to tie the score. The Beavers then added a pair of runs in the eighth to take the lead for good.

GU will continue with the third of four games in the Surprise Tournament against New Mexico on Sunday at 4 p.m. Check GoZags.com for available links to live stats.

Gonzaga Article Link

[TerpZag]

Gonzaga defeats New Mexico 4-3 Final Game Stats

Jake Vieth went 3 for 4, including a home run and 2 RBIs...

Casey Legumina struck out 3 in the bottom of the 9th to pick up the save...Calvin LeBrun picked up the win for the Zags...

[sittingon50]

Thanks Terp.

[TerpZag]

Vieth Powers Baseball to 4-3 Win Over New Mexico

Spokane native Alek Jacob goes 5.1 IP in collegiate debut


Feb. 18, 2018

Box Score


SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga’s baseball team got a huge performance out of Jake Vieth and solid pitching all day to beat New Mexico 4-3 on Sunday evening in Surprise, Ariz.

Veith, a senior, reached base four times, going 3-for-4 with a walk to end just a triple short of the cycle. Vieth’s big day included GU’s first home run of the young season.

On the mound, Spokane native and freshman Alek Jacob put together a solid start in his first-career collegiate appearance. He went 5.1 innings, giving up just two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Calvin LeBrun was solid in relief the Zags, getting the win after 2.2 innings with four hits, one earned run and four strikeouts. Sophomore Casey Legumina picked up his first save of the season and second of his career with a three-strikeout ninth.

“It was a great team win tonight,” head coach Mark Machtolf said. “Alek Jacob did a nice job of settling in and giving us a good start after taking good punch in the first inning. Jake Vieth had a great night and Ernie Yake had a big go-ahead hit for us. I thought Casey Legumina had a nice bounceback outing and shut things down in the ninth.”

For the third straight day, the Zags hit the scoring column first with Vieth blasting a two-run first-inning shot to centerfield that also plated Austin Pinorini.

After New Mexico tied it in the bottom of the first, Yake quickly grabbed the lead back for GU. The leadoff hitter brought home Daniel Fredrickson on a sacrifice fly to put score at 3-2.

Pitching dominated the next five innings for both teams as each went scoreless until the Lobos tied it with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.

Yake wasted no time in putting the Zags back in the lead again in GU’s very next at-bat. In the top of the eighth, the freshman roped a double down the left-field line to bring home Gunnar Schubert.

LeBrun, who entered for Jacob in the fifth, pitched his way out of a two-on jam in the eighth to set up Legumina to shut the door with back-to-back-back strikeouts in the ninth.

GU will wrap up the Surprise Tournament with Cal Poly on Monday at 9 a.m. in Surprise, Ariz. Check GoZags.com for available links to live stats.

Gonzaga Article Link

[TerpZag]

Timely Hitting, Bullpen Propel Baseball to 5-4 Win Over Cal Poly

Trube's first-career home run proved to be the difference


Feb. 19, 2018

Box Score


SPOKANE, Wash. -- Gonzaga baseball came back from down two runs and got a homer from Branson Trube to beat Cal Poly 5-4 in the team's final game of the Surprise Tournament on Monday morning in Surprise, Ariz.

"Today was a good back-and-forth battle with Cal Poly," head coach Mark Machtolf said. "In a game that we weren't particularly good on offense, our young freshman arms Knueppel, Millett, and Spellacy all came in and picked us up in their debut outings, as well as solid defense again to wrap up the win."

GU came from behind to take the lead twice in the game, answering Cal Poly's offense each time the Mustangs took the lead. Down 4-2 in the fifth, the Zags got two in the bottom of the frame and one more in the sixth before shutting down Cal Poly's offense in the final three innings.

Ernie Yake, Jake Vieth and Austin Pinorini each collected two hits in the game, but the biggest came off the bat of Branson Trube. His homer in the sixth was the first of his Zag career and broke a 4-4 tie, proving to be the game's winning run.

On the mound, Gonzaga's bullpen went a combined 6.1 innings, giving up just one run on three hits with four strikeouts. After starter Justin Blatner gave way to Keaton Kneuppel in the third, the Zag pitching and defense came through. Kneuppel went 3.0 innings, Mason Millett got the win going 2.1 and Michael Spellacy pitched a clean ninth for the save.

After the Mustangs got on the board with one in the top of the first, GU answered in the bottom of the second. The Zags got two runs on a single from Gunnar Schubert that scored Pinorini and Vieth.

Cal Poly got those two back in the third and added one in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead, but GU answered again with a pair in the bottom of the fifth before Trube's homer in the sixth. The two in the fifth came on a dropped fly that allowed Pinorini to dash home and an RBI single from Vieth.

GU will be back on the road to wrap up the seven-game season-opening roadtrip at UC Irvine starting on Friday. Check GoZags.com for available links to game notes live stats.

Gonzaga Article Link