May 21, 2010

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - LMU (22-27, 4-12) dropped the first game of a three-game West Coast Conference series on Friday against Gonzaga (18-32, 6-10) by a count of 8-4. The Lions scored twice in the seventh and once in the ninth, but the runs were not enough to make up the gap.

Jonathan Johnson and Shon Roe each had three hits out of the first and second spots in the order, respectively. Johnson went 3-for-5 with a triple, a run scored and a RBI. The triple was his eighth of the season, tying him for second in the all-time single season record books. Roe also collected a RBI and a run scored, while Evan Simonitsch went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Hitting out of the ninth spot in the order, Simonitsch belted his second homer of the season in the top of the ninth.

Alex Gillingham got the start and lasted six and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 13 hits, two walks and three hit-by-pitches. With the loss, Gillingham fell to 2-3 on the season. Sophomore Ramiro Carreon dealt the final inning and a third, surrendering one run on two hits.

Mark Castellitto did the most damage for Gonzaga, finishing 2-for-5 with two runs scored, a pair of doubles and three RBI. Billy Moon collected a team-best three hits, while also scoring twice and driving in a run. Cody Martin got the start and tossed eight and a third innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on 11 hits and one walk en route to improving to 5-6 with the win. Mark Phillips inherited a bases-loaded and two-out situation and a four-run lead in the ninth inning, striking out pinch-hitter Joe Vierra to seal the victory and earn his second save of the year.

The Lions struck first in the first inning when Roe reached on an error and moved to second on a passed ball. Matt Koch made the two mistakes costly with two out, lining a single into left field on the 10th pitch of his at bat to drive in the run.

The Bulldogs responded for a run in both the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead after three. Royce Bolinger singled through the left side to drive in the run in the second before a Castellitto double and a Clayton Eslick bloop single plated the run in the third.

Gonzaga extended the lead to 6-1 with four more runs in the fourth. After loading the bases on a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a mental error on a bunt in which Gillingham tried to throw out the lead runner at third base unsuccessfully, Castellitto cleared the bases with a double to right centerfield. A ground ball to the right side moved the runner to third before a sacrifice fly from Moon plated the fourth run of the inning.

LMU managed to push two more runs across in the seventh, both coming in to score with two out. Simonitsch reached on an infield single before Johnson tripled into right centerfield to score the first run. Roe came up clutch on the ensuing play, lining a RBI-single to right field.

Refusing to surrender any momentum, Gonzaga scored once more in the seventh and eighth innings. Steven Halcom contributed the RBI-double down the left field line in the seventh before a productive groundball with runners at the corners and one out allowed the eighth and final Bulldog run to cross.

The Lions made things interesting in the top of the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate in the inning. Simonitsch cut the deficit to four runs at 8-4 with a one-out homer to left field. Back-to-back singles from Johnson and Roe put two runners on before a two-out single from Koch loaded the bases. LMU elected to go to its bench with the game on the line, calling on power-hitting Vierra to take the at bat. Phillips was also summoned from the Bulldog bullpen, as the right-hander got the strikeout and ended the threat.

The Lions and Bulldogs will continue the three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.