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Bulldog Bats Explode In Baseball's 13-2 Win Over Washington
Feb. 21, 2003
SEATTLE - The Gonzaga Bulldogs knew they could score runs heading into the 2003 season, on Friday afternoon in Seattle they showed it as Gonzaga (1-4) exploded for a 13-2 win over Washington (3-4) at Husky Ballpark. With both offenses struggling Gonzaga finally pieced something together as the Bulldogs scored 7 runs on five hits with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Chris Sinner drew a two-out walk to start the rally and came around to score on Eric Rodland's RBI double to right center. Rodland would come around to score two batters later as David Johnson singled up the middle. After Gordon Corder was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Jeff Culpepper laced a ball to center for two more Bulldogs runs. Kemp Quackenbush would drive home two more runs with a single to left and Grant Zurmely capped the Bulldogs scoring with an RBI double to left, the senior shortstops first hit of the season. Gonzaga starter Errol Simonitsch (1-1) would pitch into the sixth inning allowing only two runs as he picked up his first win of the season. Simonitsch struck out seven batters for the second time in two starts this year. Ed Clelland pitched the final 3.1 innings for the save.
Sean White (0-2) was credited with the loss for Washington after being lifted in the fifth inning. Gonzaga would tack on six more runs against the Huskies bullpen with Culpepper delivering a two-run single in the sixth to push the Bulldogs lead to 9-0.
Rodland opened the top of the eighth with home run to left center and Gonzaga would add two more runs on a Johnson home run two batters later. Rodland's shot was the first home run of the season for the Bulldogs who set a school and West Coast Conference record with 92 home runs last season. Culpepper led all players on the day finishing with a 5-for-5 day and 4 RBI. Rodland finished with 3 hits to move into sole possession of seventh on the Gonzaga all-time hit list. Corder, Johnson and Quackenbush also had multiple hits for the Bulldogs as they finished with 17 hits on the afternoon. Washington was led by Tila Reynolds with two hits and Kyle Larsen with two hits. Larsen connected for his second hit in the ninth inning, a two-run home run to right. The same two teams will face off again on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at Husky Ballpark. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on both days. |
