Zags rally, but lose finale to Broncos
A ninth-inning rally by Gonzaga University wasn’t enough to overcome a six-run deficit and the Bulldogs dropped an 8-7 decision to Santa Clara in the rain-delayed finale of a three-game West Coast Conference baseball series Monday afternoon at Spokane Falls Community College.
Santa Clara won two of the games, GU’s first home losses of the season.
Trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Bulldogs scored five runs on six singles. But with two out and runners on first and second, pinch-hitter Will Ayala popped out to second to end the game.
Gonzaga (22-12, 4-2 WCC) outhit the Broncos (20-14, 3-3) 16-8 with every starter contributing, including three more from second baseman Scott Campbell. The junior from New Zealand is hitting .414 through 34 games.
Santa Clara scored all its runs in the fourth inning, parlaying five hits with four walks.
Darren Holcomb drove in two runs for GU and scored one.
Former Bulldogs pitcher Matt Wickswat (6-1), who transferred after last season, earned the win despite allowing nine hits in six innings. He struck out six and didn’t walk anyone.
College golf
Led by medalist Kara Winey’s 16-over 160, Community Colleges of Spokane won the women’s division of the Treasure Valley Invitational by 99 strokes over Walla Walla, 497-596.
The CCS men finished third in a four-team field with top scorer Tyler Morris seventh with a 7-over 151.
•Idaho sophomore Renee Skidmore earned her second Western Athletic Conference award by being selected golfer of the week after leading UI to a tie for fourth in the BYU Dixie Classic.
Skidmore, a WAC golfer of the month last fall, has seven top-10 finishes this spring, hasn’t finished out of the top 25 and leads UI with a 74.36 stroke average.
Football
Because of poor field conditions in Coeur d’Alene, the University of Idaho scrimmage scheduled for Lake City High School on Saturday will be held in Moscow beginning at 10 a.m.
Hockey
The Spokane Chiefs announced that for the third year in a row all ticket prices will remain the same, including season ticket prices that have not changed the past four seasons.
All ticket packages for the 2006-07 season are on sale. For more information, contact the Chiefs at 535-PUCK or TicketsWest at (800) 325-SEAT.
The team also announced the 2006-07 schedule will be released in August.