by Brad Wall
SPOKANE, Wash – In Marco Gonzales' first game back from a meniscus injury, Gonzaga provided him with plenty of run support, defeating Santa Clara in game two of the series 8-3.
After falling behind 2-0 early, Gonzaga answered back scoring three runs in both the third and fourth innings. Royce Bolinger opened the scoring in the third with a three-run homer bringing in Eric Lane and Payden Lawley Camb.
In the fourth, Brock Slavin scored on a passed ball followed up by a Lane sacrifice bunt that scored Alex Bonzyck. Then with the bases loaded and two down, Halcomb was walked, scoring Cawley Lamb and putting the Bulldogs up 6-2.
Santa Clara's Stephen Takahashi hit a two out solo home run in the fifth, narrowing Gonzaga's lead to three.
Maxx Garrett responded to Takahashi's homer with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the fifth, increasing their lead back to four.
Clayton Eslick hit an RBI double in the sixth bringing home Bolinger to put Gonzaga up 8-3.
The Broncos threatened a late rally in the ninth, loading the bases up with one out, but SCU's next batter Matt Ozanne grounded into a double play to end the game.
Gonzales threw for five innings allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out four. David Bigelow relieved him, throwing for three innings and not allowing a run on two hits.
The Bulldogs will be looking to complete the series-sweep of Santa Clara tomorrow, the first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
