May 23, 2009

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - LMU (30-29) allowed 14 runs on 19 hits en route to dropping a lopsided affair, 14-3, to Gonzaga (35-16) on Saturday in the West Coast Conference Championship Series. With the win, the Bulldogs earned an automatic bid to a NCAA Regional and won the WCC Conference Championship.

Senior Ryan Wiegand highlighted all players on the day, belting three home runs, including a grand slam, to finish 3-for-5 with four runs scored, a walk and eight RBI. For his efforts, including a game-winning hit yesterday in the ninth inning, he was named WCC Most Outstanding Player for the series. He is the first player to collect three home runs in a game since Kolten Wong hit three against the Lions on March 15 of this year at Hawai'i. The eight RBI are the most since Danny Dorn of Cal State Fullerton had eight on April 8, 2003.

Steven Ames contributed his third complete game of the season in the victory on the hill for Gonzaga. The right-hander allowed three runs (one earned) over the nine innings, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out five. For his effort on Saturday, he was named WCC Most Outstanding Pitcher for the series.

Seven different Lion hitters collected a hit in the game, as Kyle Spraker collected one hit and the lone Lion RBI in the ninth inning. Freshman Alex Gillingham got the start and lasted just two innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and one walk. He would be charged with his fourth loss of the season. Freshman Ramiro Carreon dealt four and a third innings, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk before senior Ernie Cho allowed four more runs on five hits and a walk. Freshman Jason Wheeler finished the game on the hill for LMU, tossing an inning and a third, surrendering a run on three hits.

Wiegand's three-run homer in the first got the scoring going for Gonzaga before RBI singles from Evan Wells and Tyson Van Winkle made it 5-0 after two. The lead was stretched to 8-0 in the fifth as Anthony Synegal singled-home a run in front of a two-RBI double from Mark Castellitto. Castellitto finished the game 4-for-5 with two RBI and two doubles. Wiegand took it upon himself to score five more Gonzaga runs, hitting a solo shot in the seventh and a grand slam in the eighth to run the tally to 13-0. The Bulldogs added one final insurance run in the ninth as Drew Heid collected a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring run at 14.

LMU managed to score three runs in the bottom of the ninth as T.J. Bernardy singled in what could be his final at bat as a Lion. After a strikeout for the first out, Shon Roe singled and moved to second on an error by the left fielder, leaving runners at second and third. Pinch-hitter Trevor Gee followed by lifting a fly ball to left that went for a second error, allowing the first two runs to score. Jonathan Johnson followed with a single to put runners at the corners before Spraker lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home the final run of the game.

The Lions will now await the NCAA Selection Show which is slated for 9:30 a.m. on Monday.