SPOKANE, Wash. (March 17, 2013 – www.GoZags.com) – Gonzaga University baseball dropped its series finale 9-3 to University of San Francisco Sunday at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washing Trust Field, but won the weekend series two games to one. It was a close game through six innings but the Dons distanced themselves with seven runs in the last three frames.
The Zags fall to 11-6-1 overall and are 2-1 in the West Coast Conference. San Francisco improves to 8-11 and 1-2 in WCC.
San Francisco was the first team on the board. With two outs in the top of the second and a runner at second base, Bob Cruikshank singled down the middle putting the Dons up 1-0. USF would continue to threaten in the inning by getting two more runners on but starter Derek Callahan (1-1) escaped by getting a weak fly out to right field.
A USF homerun in the fourth inning gave the Dons a 2-0 lead but Gonzaga would cut it to one with a run in the fifth. With Runners on the corners with two outs and Cabe Reiten at the dish, San Francisco starter Christian Cecilio threw over to first base to catch Mitchell Gunsolus in a pickle.
While the Dons chased down Gunsolus, Cory LeBrun at third base was able to score before the out putting GU on the board.
Gonzaga scored two runs in the last three innings but it did not match the seven by USF. Gunsolus tripled down the right field line brining in a run in the seventh and Jimmy Sinatro singled in a run in the ninth.
The hit and RBI were both a collegiate first for Sinatro.
Gonzaga has a short turnaround before its next game. The Zags will face local rival Washington State University Tuesday in Pullman for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
