March 17, 2007 - Gonzaga 9 Rider 4
March 17, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Gonzaga University 9, Rider University 4
SPOKANE, WA—The Broncs lost at Gonzaga Saturday in the final game of the six game road trip to the state of Washington. “The best part of this trip was that everybody played and I got to see what everybody can and cannot do,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
The Zags (14-10) scored five unearned runs in the eighth inning on four hits, a walk and three Rider errors to take a 9-4 lead. “That’s just a tough way to lose a game,” Davis said. “The final score was no indication of how this game went. We had one bad inning.”
For Rider (2-10) in the top of the eighth inning sophomore Mo Williams (Tinton Falls/Monmouth Regional) walked, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by junior David Hayes (Sunrise, Fla) to tie the score at 4-4. That was the second hit of the game for David Hayes. “We battled and stayed in it,” Davis said.
Gonzaga tied the score at 3-3 in the seventh inning on a two-out walk followed by a double, and took a 4-3 lead heading into the eighth inning. “Gonzaga is a solid team,” Davis said.
The Broncs took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning when senior Jeff Reynolds (Denville/Parsippany Hills) doubled, freshman Eric Woodrow (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) singled, and both scored on a ground ball out and an error. Reynolds also had a bunt single in the game. “We did a lot of good things, and had plenty of opportunities,” Davis said. “We just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities.”
In the fourth inning David Hayes walked, went to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a fly ball by sophomore Sean Olson (Vineland/St. Augustine Prep) to cut the lead to 2-1. Olson also singled for Rider.
Gonzaga took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on three hits.
Rider junior Will O’Connor (Cinnaminson) started and pitched six and two-thirds innings, striking out three and left with the game tied at 3-3. “Willie pitched fine,” Davis said, “the best he has thrown all year. He kept us in the game, gave us a chance.”
Junior Jon Leise (Woodbury/West Deptford) also singled for the Broncs.
Rider hosts LeMoyne in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at 12 noon. “I would have liked us to have played better,” Davis said. “But we are better prepared for the MAAC now then we were before we made this trip.”
-RU-
