Zags 13-Game Road Trip Ends At Pepperdine This Weekend
5/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 19, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format
Game 47: May 20 - at Pepperdine - Eddy D. Field Stadium - Malibu, CA - 3 p.m.
Game 48: May 21 - at Pepperdine - Eddy D. Field Stadium - Malibu, CA - 1 p.m.
Game 49: May 22 - at Pepperdine - Eddy D. Field Stadium - Malibu, CA - 1 p.m.
All Times Pacific Time Zone and Subject to Change
Gametracker Available
Gonzaga University Bulldogs (29-16-1, 12-3 West Coast)
Probable Rotation
LHP - 22 Ryan Carpenter, 6-5, 225, Jr., Peoria, AZ
(7-1, 2.61 ERA, 82.2 IP, 91 K)
LHP - 13 Tyler Olson, 6-3, 180, Jr., Spokane, WA
(6-3, 3.88 ERA, 67.1 IP, 58 K)
LHP - 7 Marco Gonzales, 6-1, 185, Fr., Fort Collins, CO
(9-2, 2.52 ERA, 89.1 IP, 70 K)
Head Coach: Mark Machtolf (Stanford University, 1987)
Gonzaga Record: 229-195-1 (8 years - 22 at GU) Career Record: Same
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Pepperdine University Waves (20-28, 5-10 West Coast)
All-time series versus Gonzaga: Pepperdine leads 43-22
Probable Rotation
LHP - 2 Aaron Gates, 6-1, 205, Jr., Villa Park, CA
(3-4, 3.33 ERA, 78.1 IP, 53 K)
RHP - 27 Jon Moscot, 6-4, 195, So., Pacific Palisades, CA
(1-1, 4.55 ERA, 55.1 IP, 39 K)
RHP - 15 Alex Najera, 6-1, 190, So., Anaheim Hills, CA
(1-3, 3.86 ERA, 51.1 IP, 22 K)
Head Coach: Steve Rodriguez (Pepperdine University, 2001 & 2003)
Pepperdine Record: 241-173 (8 years) Career Record: Same
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THE ROAD TRIP ENDS: Gonzaga University wraps up both its 13-game and season road schedule this weekend at Pepperdine University. With the non-conference schedule complete, the Bulldogs will finish the regular-season in West Coast Conference play starting this weekend at Pepperdine University in the road slate finale followed by the University of San Francisco at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field.
ROAD WARRIORS: Gonzaga University is approaching the end of its intense road schedule this week. The Bulldogs, who are currently in their second-longest of the season of 13 games, return to the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field Memorial Weekend for the regular-season finale with the University of San Francisco. During their road trip, the Bulldogs have swept Santa Clara University and the University of Portland both in three games and split a two-game series with Brigham Young University. After getting swept at the University of Oregon Tuesday and Wednesday, Pepperdine University remains on the Bulldogs road slate. The Bulldogs longest road stretch was back when they opened the season on an 18-game road trip, going 10-7-1. Gonzaga is 19-11-1 overall on the road.
AUTOMATIC BID UP FOR GRABS: Gonzaga University and the University of San Francisco are battling for the West Coast Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Baseball Championships and will meet in the regular-season finale on Memorial Weekend in Spokane. For the second straight season there will not be a WCC Championship Series. The regular-season champion will receive the WCC's automatic berth to the NCAA Baseball Championships. The Dons are in first place with a 14-4 conference record, having played three more games than the Bulldogs, who are 12-3. While the Dons are off from competition this weekend, the Zags will be in Malibu, Calif., taking on Pepperdine University to determine how they can win the automatic bid when they come home. If the Bulldogs win at least one game against the Waves, then they will need to win one game against the Dons to clinch at least a share of the WCC championship, two to receive the automatic bid. If the Bulldogs are swept in Malibu, then they will need to sweep the Dons to receive both.
MACHTOLF IN SEARCH FOR 100TH WCC WIN: Gonzaga University head coach Mark Machtolf is one West Coast Conference victory away from reaching the milestone of 100 WCC wins. In his eighth year at the helm, Machtolf is 99-77 (.563) against WCC opponents. He has already achieved the milestone of 200 overall wins in 2010.
SCOUTING THE WAVES: Pepperdine University is coming off a 4-3 loss at Long Beach State University Wednesday evening. The Waves had a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning but the 49ers scored all four runs in the sixth. The Waves got a run in the eighth but it was not enough to beat the 49ers. Sam Meyer is hitting .312 to lead the Waves while Joe Sever leads the ballclub in home runs (5) and RBI (26). Aaron Gates has been Waves ace this season, going 3-4 with a 3.33 earned-run average and 53 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE WAVES: Gonzaga University won the West Coast Conference series opener 16-3 over Pepperdine University last season in Spokane but the Waves went on to win the next two contests 11-2 and 10-5. Junior outfielder Royce Bolinger led the Bulldogs offensively, batting .500 (6-for-12) with a double, a home run and four driven in. Senior right-hander Cody Martin threw six strong innings in the series opener, striking out three and allowing three runs.
WCC COACHES' PRESEASON POLL INACCURATE: The current West Coast Conference standings is not what the coaches predicted when they submitted their preseason poll February. Gonzaga University and the University of San Francisco, who were picked to finish sixth and third in the standings, respectively, are the top two teams in the conference. Preseason favorite University of San Diego is in third place while Loyola Marymount University (picked fifth), Saint Mary's College (eighth), the University of Portland (fourth), Pepperdine University (second) and Santa Clara University (seventh) make up the rest of the standings.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS LIVE: Fans can follow all Gonzaga University home games and selected away games via Gametracker on the Internet at http://www.gozags.com. Fans can also follow all the Bulldogs home games on Sports Talk 1510 KGA with Tom Hudson and former Gonzaga head coach and current associate athletic director Steve Hertz calling the action.
THE BULLDOGS ARE ON SWX: Gonzaga University baseball will have three games televised on SWX this season starting April 5 against Washington State University. The other games being televised are April 25 against the University of Washington and May 27 against the University of San Francisco.
THE BULLDOGS ARE ON TWITTER: Fans can follow the Gonzaga University Bulldogs on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GonzagaBulldogs.
THE STREAK ENDS FOR CHISM: Senior third baseman Tyler Chism's team-best 14-game hitting streak came to an end Wednesday at the University of Oregon. Chism went 0-for-4 at the plate against the Ducks.
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS REWRITTEN: There are several Gonzaga University players writing themselves into the single-season lists. Senior pitcher Cody Martin has recorded eight saves and is one away from matching the record he set as a freshman. His six saves as a sophomore placed him in a three-way tie for fourth. Junior southpaw Ryan Carpenter sits 10th in the strikeout list with 91. It is the first time a Bulldog entered the strikeout list since former Zag and current Colorado Rockies starter Clayton Mortensen in 2007, who struck out 122 to place him in a tie for third. Redshirt senior catcher Cameron Edman's 21 doubles places him in a four-way tie for fourth in that column.
MARCO CAN DO IT ALL: Freshman Marco Gonzales had a busy day last Monday at the University of Portland. He not only went the distance for the fourth time this season but he contributed offensively late in the game, going 2-for-2 and helping the offense score five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Pilots 5-2 and earn his West Coast Conference-leading ninth win.
CHASING 30 WINS: Gonzaga University has vastly improved its record this season comparing to last season. With 29 wins so far this season, the Bulldogs passed last year's mark of 20 and are on pace to achieving their fourth 30-win season in five years with six games remaining in the regular-season.
HOME SWEET HOME: Gonzaga University played its 100th contest at the Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field against the University of San Diego April 10. The Bulldogs have compiled a record of 66-37 (.641) since they moved into their on-campus ballpark in 2007 and posted winning records in their first three seasons. Their season-best was 19-6 in their West Coast Conference regular-season and championship series titles season in 2009.
BULLDOGS ON OFFENSE: Gonzaga University has been very productive with its bats this season. The Bulldogs are leading the West Coast Conference in runs scored (250) and is second in batting average (.280) and RBI (214) and third in on-base percentage (.351). In addition, Gonzaga is first in slugging percentage (.394), second in doubles (95), triples (9) and home runs (23). In the individual categories, sophomore outfielder Billy Moon is sixth in the conference in batting average (.351) and redshirt senior catcher Cameron Edman leads the league in slugging percentage (.652) and is tied for the most doubles (21) and home runs (9).
PITCHERS LEADING THE WAY: Since opening day, Gonzaga University's pitching staff has been one of the best in the West Coast Conference. The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a third-best 3.25 earned-run average and have struck out 360 batters, second-most in the WCC. Ninety-one of the Bulldogs strikeouts came from junior Ryan Carpenter, who leads the conference in the individual category. Freshman Marco Gonzales' nine wins leads the conference and senior Cody Martin, who has made a team-most 21 appearances, leads the conference in saves with 10.
MARTIN REWRITING RECORDS: Cody Martin has been rewriting Gonzaga University's career record book during his senior campaign. He made his 84th appearance Wednesday at the University of Oregon, the second-most in that category. He is four shy from trying Brandon Harmon (2005-08) for the record. He has also punched 263 strikeouts, passing current Bulldogs assistant coach Steve Bennett (1996-2000) for third-most in a career. Mike Davey (1972-74) is second on the list with 312.
CARPENTER ON TWO STRIKEOUT LISTS: Already sitting ninth in Gonzaga University's career strikeout list with 213 and is two away from tying Barry Matthews (1999-01) for eighth-most, junior Ryan Carpenter has entered the single season strikeout list. His 91 strikeouts place him 10th on the list and he is two away from tying Byron Burns (1974), three from former Gonzaga head coach and current associate athletic director Steve Hertz (1972).
MARTIN ON NCWBA'S WATCH LIST: Gonzaga University senior pitcher Cody Martin was named to the midseason watch list for the seventh annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, as announced by the association April 21. Martin is one of 45 relief pitchers in NCAA Division I to be named on the watch list. He was previously included on the watch list as a sophomore and was selected NCBWA Freshman All-America second team. He owns a 0.95 earned-run average with a 2-1 record and seven saves in 16 appearances. He has posted 49 strikeouts in 38 innings.
CAREER DAY FOR Cameron Edman: Redshirt senior catcher Cameron Edman played perhaps the best game of his career at Gonzaga University at Brigham Young University May 1. Along with going 5-for-5 against the Cougars, Edman hit three home runs to become the third Bulldog in three consecutive seasons to record three in a game - Mark Castellitto did it at Utah Valley University March 25, 2010 and Ryan Wiegand did it in the West Coast Conference Championship Series against Loyola Marymount University May 23, 2009. Edman also registered a double and a single but was a triple short from the cycle.
EDMAN NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRIC FIRST TEAM: Gonzaga University baseball redshirt senior catcher Cameron Edman was named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-District 8 First Team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America May 5. Edman is now eligible to earn Academic All-America honors. Edman, who has a bachelor's degree in applied communication studies and is pursuing a master's degree in organizational leadership, owns a 3.62 undergraduate cumulative grade-point average and a 3.92 graduate GPA.
CARPENTER SELECTED TO ALL-WCC PRESEASON TEAM: Junior left-handed pitcher Ryan Carpenter was Gonzaga University's lone selection to the Preseason All-West Coast Conference team. Carpenter started all 12 appearances last season, second-most out of the rotation. He led the Zag starters in earned-run average (5.67), opposing batting average (.273) and allowed the fewest earned runs (38) and home runs (2). He finished second behind senior right-hander Cody Martin in strikeouts with 53.
FOUR TO JOIN THE ZAGS NEXT YEAR: Gonzaga University head coach Mark Machtolf has announced on Dec. 20, 2010 the signing of four Washington natives to national letters-of-intent. The Bulldogs will welcome for the 2012 season right-handed pitcher Kevin Moriarty out of Shoreline High in Shoreline, middle infielder Mitchell Gunsolus from Inglemoor High in Kenmore, left-handed pitcher/outfielder Derek Callahan of Edmonds-Woodway High in Edmonds and right-handed pitcher/third baseman Zach Abbruzza, hailing from Redmond High in Redmond.
RECAPPING LAST SEASON: Gonzaga University finished 20-36 overall and 8-13 in the West Coast Conference to place them in a tie for fifth in the standings last season. The Zags got offensive impacts from Drew Heid, Mark Castellitto and junior Andy Hunter. Heid led the Bulldogs in nearly all offensive categories, batting average (.390), doubles (18), triples (4), slugging percentage (.602), on-base percentage (.467) and stolen bases (8-for-14). Castellitto led the Bulldogs in RBIs with 50.
