Gonzaga University, the co-leaders in the West Coast Conference, came to Malibu last weekend looking to improve their chances for a conference title. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, they had just enough quality pitching to outlast the upset-minded Waves as they took two of three games.
Pitching dominated the three-game series between Pepperdine University and Gonzaga. One day after Pepperdine sophomore Jon Moscot threw a complete game shutout, 3-0, Gonzaga rebounded on Sunday with a 5-0 victory on the strength of its own pitching behind the efforts of Marco Gonzales.
The opening contest of the series featured Aaron Gates of the Waves on the mound opposing the Zags’ Ryan Carpenter. Gates threw seven innings, but struggled with his control as he walked seven batters. Gonzaga was able to put 14 runners on base but couldn’t cash in many of them as the Pepperdine defense turned a season-high five double plays.
The Bulldogs scored single runs in the first three innings and that was enough for Carpenter as he coasted through the Pepperdine lineup. Carpenter (8-1) pitched a strong game, throwing seven innings and allowing only one run on four hits while striking out nine Wave batters.
Gates (3-5) finished, allowing three runs on six hits.
Game two of the series featured a dominating performance by The Malibu Times Athlete of the Week, Jon Moscot. Gonzaga ran into a buzz saw as Moscot (2-1) mowed down the Bulldogs inning after inning with precision and execution.
He finished by throwing nine innings of shutout baseball, allowing no runs on five hits while striking out five batters and walking only two. It was the first complete game of the season by a Pepperdine pitcher.
Waves’ outfielder Brian Humphries contributed the key hit with a bases-loaded single in the third inning to drive in two runs. He fought off seven pitches from Gonzaga starter Tyler Olson (6-4) before punching a hit between first and second base to bring home all the runs Moscot would need.
“Gonzaga kept throwing me curveballs all day and I was able to just sit back and finally drive one through the infield,” Humphries had said. “It was a big win since we’ve been struggling versus the WCC, and for us to come out here and shut them out on a Saturday and possibly win the series tomorrow is great for us.”
Gonzaga, previously ranked in the top 25 by Baseball America, wouldn’t allow that to happen. Gonzales (10-2) and reliever Cody Martin combined on a three-hit shutout as the determined Bulldogs (31-17, 14-4) kept their dreams alive for a conference championship.
Meanwhile, Pepperdine (21-30, 6-12) will host Saint Mary’s this Thursday through Saturday at Eddy D. Field Stadium to wrap up their 2011 regular season. Game time for Thursday and Friday is 3 p.m. and the finale on Saturday is at 1 p.m.