Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Starter Matt McCallister was solid on the mound and the Pilots had ample opportunities to score, but the Gonzaga Bulldogs escaped with a 2-1 victory in the finale of a West Coast Conference series played on Monday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday but was pushed back a day due to wet conditions.
The win gives Gonzaga (20-10-1, 8-4 WCC) the series sweep, which featured two one-run games. Portland drops to 12-20 overall and to 4-5 in the conference.
McCallister (1-3) worked 8.0 strong innings and allowed just three hits and only one earned run, but the Portland hitters left 10 base runners stranded on the day. McCallister, a senior right-hander, struck out three.
Gonzaga starter Kenny Smith (3-0) worked out of multiple jams during his 7.0 innings to improve to remain perfect on the year. GU ace Marco Gonzales pitched the final 2.0 innings to earn his first save of the spring. The two pitchers didn’t issue a walk and combined to register six strikeouts.
The Bulldogs scored their first run in the top of the second inning without recording a hit. After a walk and an error gave Gonzaga runners on the corners with one out, Travis Forbes knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Leading 1-0 an inning later, the Bulldogs again had runners on the corners with one out. This time the Pilots missed a golden opportunity for an inning-ending double play when the throw to first was in the dirt. That allowed Caleb Lebrun to reach base safely on the fielder’s choice, and Mitchell Gonsolus trotted home to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
That run proved to be huge as the Pilot struggled to generate much offense, despite out-hitting the Bulldogs 8-4. Portland’s lone run came in the bottom of the third inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Jeff Melby picked up the RBI with a ground-out to the shortstop.
Now trailing by just one run, the Pilots still had runners on second and third with only one out. But Smith was able to end the threat with a strike out and a ground out.
After that, the Pilots would get the tying run to second base during the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but Smith was able to avoid any damage each time.
Both teams committed a pair of errors and the game was delayed by rain for 40 minutes during the top of the eighth inning.
Nick Armenta had two of Portland’s hits.
The Pilots next travel to Provo, Utah, for a three-game WCC series, which opens on Thursday with a 5 p.m. (Pacific) game. Friday’s game will also begin at 5 p.m. and will be shown live nationally on BYUtv. First pitch for Saturday’s series final is scheduled for 12 p.m.
