ANTHEM, Ariz. - Scoring eight runs over the
final four innings against the George Fox University bullpen,
including five with two out in the top of the 9th, the University
of La Verne Leopards stunned the Bruins 11-8 on the third day of
action in the Arizona Desert baseball Classic Saturday here at
Boulder Creek High School.
Freshman right-hander Clay Gartner got the start for the Bruins
and gave up three unearned runs in the top of the 1st, but settled
down to throw four shutout innings after that as his teammates
rallied. Seth Anderson doubled home Sam Stahl for a run in
the George Fox 1st, and the Bruins tied it with two in the
2nd. Brent Trask doubled and Colton Thomas
singled him in for the first run, then Thomas came in from third on
Nate Hickok's grounder to short which was booted.
The Bruins took the lead with a pair in the 3rd. Dan
Winterstein singled, Jason Brown was hit by a pitch, and an error
at third loaded the bases. Thomas singled in Winterstein, and
Brown scored on Cody Curtin's grounder to short. Hickok had an RBI
single and Perry Knudson doubled home two more in the 5th as the
Bruins extended their lead to 8-3.
Travis Schroeder replaced Gartner on the mound for the Bruins
and gave up single runs in the 6th and 7th, the first on a
run-scoring grounder and the second on a bases-loaded sacrifice
fly. Andrew Snyder surrendered a run in the 8th as he gave up
a walk and two singles to load the bases, then hit a batter to
force in a run. Brian Davis relieved and induced a line drive
unassisted double play to Eric Gantenbein at third.
Leading 8-6 in the 9th, Davis gave up a lead-off single and hit
a batter before striking out the next two Leopards. A double
tied the game, and the go-ahead run scored when Davis hit another
batter, walked the bases loaded, and then hit one more
Leopard. The final two runs scored on an error at second.
George Fox banged out 12 hits, with Knudson, Stahl,
Anderson,Trask and Thomas collecting two apiece. Knudson and
Thomas each had two RBIs. Davis (0-1) took the loss on the
hill.
The Bruins are now 1-2 overall and in the tournament, while the
Leopards are 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the Classic.
NOTES: George Fox was ranked 18th in the
Collegiate Baseball pre-season poll and 19th in the
D3baseball.com poll ... The Bruins will start sophomore righty
Brian Ranta against Whittier College Sunday at 2:00 p.m. on the
final day of the Arizona Desert Classic ... La Verne takes on
Pacific Lutheran University Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
