By: Gonzaga Athletics
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.– A six-run fourth inning doomed Gonzaga University baseball as the Bulldogs dropped 6-2 against No. 6 Oregon State in the Palm Springs Tournament at Palms Springs Stadium Saturday.
The defeat drops Gonzaga to 1-2 and Oregon State improves to 2-0.
Starter Marco Gonzales (0-1) retired the first nine batters of the game before he issued two walks to start the fourth inning. An Oregon State single and a sacrifice fly brought in two runs to tie the contest at 2. The Beavers then hit back-to-back singles to drive in another three runs.
The damage continued in the fourth when a Gonzaga fielding error at first brought in another run. When the inning was over, the Zags trailed 6-2.
Gonzales went six innings allowing six runs, eight hits and struck out five.
Before the fourth, the Bulldogs built a 2-0 lead in the second inning. GU opened with back-to-back singles from Zach Abbruzza and Gonzales. Cory LeBrun singled in Abbruzza and Cabe Reiten laid a sacrifice bunt to bring in Gonzales.
The Oregon State advantage maintained until they added three more in the eighth.
The Bulldogs six hits were scattered between Abbruzza, Gonzales, Travis Forbes, Cory LeBrun and Alex Bonczyk. Also seeing action for the first time this season on the mound was Arturo Reyes and Derek Peterson.
The Bulldogs close out the Palm Springs Tournament Sunday at 10 a.m. when they have a rematch against Utah Valley University.
