Gonzaga extends winning streak to eight with victory at Washington State
PULLMAN – Sophomore starting pitcher Daniel Bies held down Washington State for the second time in two weeks as Gonzaga picked up the midweek win over the Cougars, 7-3, on Tuesday night.
First baseman Nick Brooks drove in three runs with a home run and double. While WSU starter A.J. Block pitched ably, he lasted just four innings, and the Cougars bullpen surrendered six runs over the final five frames.
The Bulldogs extended their winning streak to eight games as they head into a decisive portion of their schedule. Whether or not GU repeats as West Coast Conference champions will be determined by upcoming series at Loyola Marymount, which is tied with the Zags atop the conference standings, and with BYU, which is currently third in the WCC.
“We haven’t always played great by any stretch of the imagination, but we’ve been tough late in games,” Zags coach Mark Machtolf said. “Their experience is huge, because all of these guys have been through this and know what to expect. There’s no substitute for that experience.”
It was GU’s second win in two weeks over the Inland Northwest rival, having beaten WSU 9-4 in Spokane on April 17.
Bies picked up the win in both outings over the Cougars, going six innings in both starts. He held down the capable Cougars offense on Tuesday, allowing just two runs on five hits.
Brooks started the scoring early, plating Justin Jacobs in the second inning with a two-out double to center field.
The Cougars briefly took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Danny Sinatro singled and advanced on a single by catcher Cal Waterman. Both players advanced on a sacrifice bunt by leadoff hitter Andres Alvarez, then scored on singles by Dillon Plew and Shane Matheny.
But the Zags retook the lead half an inning later, scoring four runs thanks to Brooks’ two-run homer and a two-run single by Troy Johnston.
The Bulldogs added a run in the top of the ninth when Tyler Frost scored on a squeeze play on a bunt laid down by Brendan McClary.
- The Zags re-entered the national rankings for the first time since the second week of the season, drawing a No. 19 ranking from Collegiate Baseball. It is the highest ranking for GU by any outlet since the 2009 season.
- WSU picked up its first Pac-12 series win of the season last weekend, taking two of three games from No. 30 Washington. The Cougars have taken the series from their in-state rivals in three consecutive seasons.
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