March 5, 2006

Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. - Patrick Donovan faced one batter over the minimum in a complete game, three-hit shutout as Gonzaga ended Washington State's seven-game winning streak with a 7-0 victory in the final game of the Banana Belt Tournament Sunday evening at Bailey-Brayton Field.

With the loss the Cougars fall to 13-3 on the season and share the Banana Belt title with Gonzaga as both teams finished the weekend 3-1. The Bulldogs improve to 10-7 overall and avenge an 18-10 loss to WSU Friday evening.

Donovan was strong throughout the game as he retired the first 13 Cougars he faced before giving up a one-out single to Zach McAngus in the fifth. McAngus was retired when Jim Murphy hit into an inning-ending double play as Donovan faced the minimum through five.

McAngus lined another single to left in the eighth, giving WSU just its second base runner. But another double play ended the inning as Donovan entered the ninth facing the minimum. Jeff Miller led of the final inning for WSU with an infield single but was stranded at second as the next three Cougars failed to bring him home.

While the Cougars bats struggled for hits, Gonzaga pounded out 10 in the game. The Bulldogs scored in the fourth inning as a two-out error by Matt Thomas resulted in an unearned run. In the fifth, the lead was pushed to 4-0 as back-to-back singles by Ryan Wiegand and Aaron McGuinness started the rally. Scott Campbell brought home Wiegand on an RBI single then Jackson Brennan drove in two more with a single through the left side. That was enough to end Cougar starter Mike Wagner's afternoon.

Matt Way came on in the fifth with the bases loaded to work out of the jam, but found trouble in the eighth. Three hits, an error and a balk resulted in three more runs, putting the game out of reach.

Wagner saw his record fall to 1-2 this season after going four and 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with two strikeouts. In all five Cougar pitchers worked in the contest. Senior Jay Miller, who entered the contest riding an 18-game hitting streak, went 0-for-3 to end his streak.

Gonzaga was led at the plate by Zach Woodward and McGuinness as each had a pair of hits.

WSU is next in action Tuesday when it begins three-game home series against Chicago State. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Bailey-Brayton Field.

--wsucougars.com--