Cody Martin

April 12, 2008

Spokane, Wash. - Cody Martin threw 2.1 shutout innings Saturday as the freshman tied the Gonzaga University single season saves record as the Bulldogs downed Santa Clara University 5-4 at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. The win evened the three-game West Coast Conference series between the two teams at one game apiece.

Martin's save was the seventh of the season, tying the 26-year old school record. He is now tied with Randy Bostic who posted seven saves during the 1982 season. Martin earned the save throwing 2.1 innings allowing no runs on two hits and two walks while striking out two. The save was the second of the week for the native of Dos Palos, Calif. as he earned a save Tuesday against Washington State University.

GU (18-15, 2-5 WCC) starter Matt Fields (5-2) earned the win as the junior allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out four. Jeremy Stumetz also saw time out of the pen, throwing 0.1 inning. Santa Clara (18-13, 4-4 WCC) starter Alex Rivers (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on 11 hits over 7.0 frames.

For the second game in a row, the Broncos jumped out to an early lead over the Zags by scoring in the opening frame. After a walk to the lead off batter Matt Long and a single up the middle by Tommy Medica to put runners on the corners, SCU plated one run on a single to center by Gabe Alcantar.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth, when Gonzaga rallied for four runs to take a 4-1 edge. Ryan Wiegand and Tyson Van Winkle each drove in two for the Zags during the frame. Evan Wells and Jason Chatwood each recorded singles before Marcus McKimmy drew a walk to load the bases for Wiegand. Wiegand then hit a double to left center to score Wells and Chatwood. McKimmy and Wiegand were then plated on Van Winkle's single to left center.

Santa Clara posted a come-back in the top of the seventh, narrowing GU's lead to 5-4 with three runs. Jon Karcich scored the first run of the inning on a single through the left side by Brady Fuerst. Fuerst advanced to third on a single by Long, before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Evan LeBlanc. LeBlanc scored the final run of the game on a single to right by Medica.

The Broncos threatened again in the eighth and ninth innings as they stranded both the tying and go-ahead runs on base during each frame.

Wiegand and Van Winkle led GU at the plate as each posted two hits with two runs batted in. Drew Heid also posted two hits, extending his current hit streak to eight games.

Gonzaga and Santa Clara will play the rubber contest of the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. AJ Proszek is expected the get the starting nod for the Zags.