Pond Makes First Start in Baseball's 3-2 Loss to Gonzaga - The Official Athletic Site of the University of Utah

Pond Makes First Start in Baseball's 3-2 Loss to Gonzaga
Hussey hits first home run of the season for Utah.

Joe Pond made his first career start for Utah against Gonzaga.

March 25, 2009

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga's eight-inning run broke a 2-2 tie and lifted the Zags to a 3-2 victory over the Utah baseball team on Wednesday, March 25.

Freshman Joe Pond made his first career start on the mound for the Utes (9-12), pitching 5.2 innings and striking out four, allowing two runs and five hits.

"He pitched really well," Utah head coach Bill Kinneberg said. "He threw strikes and did well with his breaking ball and that was the key."

Kevin Hussey put the Utes on the board in the fifth inning with a two-run home run to right field, his first round-tripper of the season. Tyler Yagi had led off the inning with a single.

Gonzaga (15-6) scored in the bottom of the sixth. Evan Wells and Drew Heid hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Although Pond got the next two batters to pop up for the first and second outs, the Zags Anthony Synegal hit a single through the right side of the infield to send Wells across the plate for the first run. Back-to-back walks to Mark Castellitto (which loaded the bases) and Grant Kveder (to send in Heid) tied the game at 2-2.

The Utes put runners on in the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to push anyone across the plate. Austin Jones was thrown out at the plate in the sixth inning after Gavin Green's single to center field. Devin Walker led off the seventh inning with a double and Corey Shimada was intentionally walked to put two runners on, but neither would advance any further.

"In a 3-2 game the little things make the difference," Kinneberg said. "We had chances to score and execute and when you don't do the little things they come back to bite you. We played fairly well today but didn't get it done."

Gonzaga scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ryan Wiegand earned a one-out walk and Synegal followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Castellitto was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a potential force play. After Ute reliever Bennett Askew struck out Kveder, Jason Chatwood was hit by the pitch in the left shoulder, sending Wiegand across the plate and give the Zags a 3-2 lead.

Askew earned the loss and falls to 0-2 on the year. Tyler Andersen also pitched in the eighth inning for Utah. Reliever Cody Martin picked up the win for Gonzaga.

Utah returns home to Franklin Covey Field for a three-game non-conference series against Southern Utah, beginning on Friday, March 27, at 6:00 p.m.

"Our goal is just to get better and get used to playing on our field and at home," Kinneberg said. "I'm looking forward to Friday night."