Gonzaga Baseball Loses Two of Three at Texas State, Falls to 2-5
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Continuing a tough stretch to begin the season, Gonzaga baseball (2-5) took on Texas State (5-2) this past weekend, but once again succumbed on the road. Although they had opportunities to win the series, the Bulldogs instead lost two of three games to the Bobcats.
Texas State scored first in all three contests, with the Zags needing to play catch-up constantly throughout the set. The first game was the toughest pill to swallow for the Zags, as they blew a three-run cushion, with the Bobcats plating four runs in the eighth to steal it. GU’s bats were quieted by the opposing starters in each of the final two games, sparking a rally late in the middle game but not being able to repeat its heroics in the rubber match.
How did another series squeeze out of Gonzaga’s grasp?
Game 1: Texas State wins 8-6
Setting the tone for a trend in the series, Bobcats catcher Rashawn Galloway took a fastball the other way for a leadoff homer off Finbar O’Brien to get the scoring going. A double later in the inning was chased home on a slow single to give Texas State a 2-0 lead after one.
After getting virtually nothing their first time through the lineup against Kyle Froehlich, the Zags’ offense woke up in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back singles by Noah Meffert and Mikey Bell started the inning before Hudson Shupe chopped one down the first base line. The ball kicked off Manny Salas’ glove into foul territory, who hurriedly flipped it back towards first in an attempt to nab Shupe. But it was off-target and rolled into the infield, allowing Meffert to scurry all the way from second to score as he slid under the throw home.
Then, Ryder Young delivered a big blow, lifting a towering fly over the wall in left-center for a three-run blast and Gonzaga’s first homer of the season. Not being done in the inning, catcher Luca DiPaolo pulled one inside the third-base bag for a double that chased home shortstop Andy Cisneros, who earlier hit his first of three singles, prompting Froehlich to be pulled.
O’Brien settled in after his sketchy start, but ran back into trouble in the fifth, surrendering three consecutive singles before being relieved. Zach Bowman immediately rolled a double play out of the bullpen, but after a walk, allowed an RBI double as the Bulldogs’ lead was trimmed to one.
DiPaolo gave the Zags some breathing room in the eighth, singling through the right side for his second two-out RBI knock of the night.
But in the home half of that frame, and Bowman still in, Texas State had its first three hitters walk, single, and be hit by a pitch to load the bases. Then Chase Mora lofted a fly ball to right that Meffert couldn’t corral, bouncing away for a game-tying two-run double. Head coach Mark Machtolf called for Garrett Gores to get GU out of the jam, and although he did strike out three men, Gores also walked two Bobcats, which brought home the go-ahead run as well as insurance.
Game 2: Gonzaga wins 5-1
The middle game of the series was a pitcher’s duel for two-thirds of the contest, with Bulldogs starter Erik Hoffberg and Bobcats freshman Nolan Moore spinning masterpieces on the mound. Texas State shortstop Dawson Park’s adventure around the bases in the second inning was the lone run either starting pitcher allowed. He led off with a walk before stealing second, advancing to third on a failed pickoff, and scoring on a fielder’s choice where the throw home was late.
GU only managed four baserunners through six, but once Moore was removed in the seventh, they immediately jumped on lefty Titan Targac in relief. DiPaolo cranked a leadoff double and, after a sacrifice bunt by Cisneros moved him to third, back-to-back walks filled the bases with Bulldogs. Will Canalichio was brought in to face Tommy Eisenstat, and the first baseman narrowly beat out a double-play attempt, so the score was tied at one. Another walk was offered to Bo Shinkle, which led to an additional pitching change in the inning, setting the table for Meffert to drive a huge three-run double into the gap off of Shane Connell.
Hoffberg delivered a shutdown inning to put a bow on his outing, finishing with seven punchouts in seven frames, walking three, and only allowing two hits. The preseason All-WCC selection now has a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings of work.
Bo Shinkle was drilled with the bases juiced in the eighth for the fifth Zags run, and freshman Landon Hood continued his strong start to his collegiate career, closing the last two innings with no runs allowed and a couple of K’s.
Game 3: Texas State wins 5-0
Taking Moore’s performance and running with it, Bobcats southpaw starter Jesus Tovar dominated Gonzaga on Sunday, tossing eight shutout innings on 100 pitches. He induced plenty of soft contact, only allowing three hits and a walk on the day while striking out four, continuing a campaign where he is yet to allow a run. A sign that it would be difficult for GU to score – Meffert was thrown out at the plate on a double steal attempt in the opening frame, which turned out to be the closest the team would be to scoring.
A solo shot by Justin Cotton off Karsten Sweum turned out to be all Texas State needed, but it didn’t help the Zags’ case that they offered seven free passes, while only surrendering four hits. In the fourth, the Bobcats capitalized on three Sweum walks to plate three runs, which was his last inning of work.
The bullpen did a mostly fine job to keep the deficit where it was, but two more walks in the sixth inning led to an additional run. With the bases loaded and one out, the Bulldogs turned a unique double play on a flyball off the bat of Galloway, where a Bobcat scored before the two outs were recorded.
Overall, Gonzaga’s bats still aren’t close to midseason form, particularly in the power department, where they currently rank last in the WCC in slugging percentage (.236). When they do score, the runs come in bunches, but so far, those fruitful innings aren’t occurring very often. The pitching has gotten off to a strong start, but high-leverage moments seem to be the unit’s downfall, as walks and hits with runners on have been offered more times than not in tense situations.
The upcoming schedule isn’t lessening up for the Zags, now traveling to Norman to face No. 13 Oklahoma next weekend for a three-game set, with GU still searching for its first series win.
