Marcus McKimmy

April 13, 2008

Box Score

Spokane, Wash. - Marcus McKimmy posted three hits to drive in three runs Sunday as the Gonzaga University baseball team dropped a 9-5 West Coast Conference game to Santa Clara University at Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. With the victory, the Broncos captured the three-game series, 2-1.

SCU (19-13, 5-4 WCC) starter Thain Simon earned the win as the freshman allowed four runs, two earned, on eight hits over 5.1 frames. Reliever Mark Willinsky earned his second save of the season as he entered the game with the tying run at the plate and the go-ahead run on deck. Gonzaga (18-16, 2-6 WCC) starter AJ Proszek (1-3) suffered the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on 10 hits over 5.2 innings.

The Broncos hit four home runs Sunday accounting for five runs. Brady Fuerst and Nathan Faulkner each went yard once, while Jon Karcich posted two long balls.

Gonzaga fell behind early, as Santa Clara posted runs in the first and second frames to take a 2-0 edge. In the opening inning, leadoff batter Matt Long doubled to center before scoring on a single up the middle by Tommy Medica. SCU added a run in the second frame with a solo home run by Fuerst.

The Bulldogs knotted the score at two in the bottom of the third. Bryan Winston led of the frame reaching on a two-base error and advanced to third on a single by Drew Heid. Winston then came around to score on a throwing error by the Broncos' pitcher. Heid scored the second run of the inning on a single through the left side by McKimmy.

Santa Clara answered with two runs in the top of the first as Faulkner and Fuerst each hit sacrifice flies to plate Geoff Klein and Karcich. The Broncos added an additional pair of runs in the top of the sixth on back-to-back solo home runs by Karcich and Faulkner.

GU added a run in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to 6-4 thanks to a one-run single through the left side by McKimmy. Evan Wells, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on the play.

The Broncos added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a two-run long ball by Karcich and a sacrifice fly by Klein.

The Zags capped scoring in their half of the seventh with a bases loaded walk to McKimmy.

Gonzaga posted multiple opportunities to take control of the game, as the Zags' stranded a season high 17 runners on base. In the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings, the Bulldogs left the bases loaded to end the frame.

For the series with Santa Clara, McKimmy paced GU batting at a .462 clip. The senior went 6-for-13 with five runs batted in and three runs scored.

The Bulldogs will hit the field again Monday as they host the University of Washington in a two-game set in Spokane. The series opener will take place at 6 p.m. in Spokane with Reedy Berg expected to get the GU starting nod.