SPOKANE, Wash. – Ian Sagdal collected a season-high four hits but it was not enough as Gonzaga used a three-run sixth inning to propel the Bulldogs to a 5-4 win over Washington State Tuesday evening at Patterson Complex.
Trailing 5-3 entering the ninth, the Cougars cut the deficit in half as Sagdal's RBI single scored Daniel Fredrickson, putting runners at the corners with two outs. Bulldog reliever David Bigelow was able to retire the next batter, Wes Leow, for the final out to end the threat and pick up his fifth save of the season.
Trailing 2-0, WSU tied the game in the fourth by opening the frame with three-straight singles, the last coming from Wes Hatten that scored Sagdal. One out later, Leow scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of J.J. Hancock to make it 2-2.
Sagdal gave the Cougars their only lead of the game with a one-out home run to center in the fifth, his first home run of the season.
Gonzaga answered in the home half of the sixth as Taylor Jones' first home run of the season, a two-run shot off Cougar reliever Scotty Sunitsch, gave the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead. Jeff Bohling added an RBI single later in the frame, scoring Joey Harris, to extend the lead to 5-3 through six.
Gonzaga jumped out early on Cougar starter Nick Leonard, taking advantage of three walks and an error to post the 2-0 lead in the first. Mitchell Gunsolus had an RBI double to open the scoring then with the bases loaded, Leonard appeared to get out of the inning on Taylor Jones' grounder to third that could have ended the inning. Shane Matheny misplayed the ball, allowing the second run to come home.
After the first Leonard settled down, retiring the final nine men he faced to finish his night going four innings, allowing two runs on one hit with four walks and one strikeout. Sunitsch (0-2) picked up the loss, surrendering three runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Sagdal finished the game going four-for-five with two runs and two RBI, his first four-hit game since going four-for-five March 30, 2015 against San Jose State.
Gonzaga starter Tyler Frost went 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits but did not get the decision. Zach Abbruzza (2-0), who came on with one out and a runner on second in the sixth, got out of the inning unscathed, picking up the win. Bigelow picked up the two-inning save, allowing one run on three hits.
The Cougars return to Pac-12 action Thursday with the first of three games at No. 12 California in Berkeley. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
--wsucougars.com--
