Seattle at Gonzaga

SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — Justin Feld pitched six strong innings and Jacob Wrubleski homered as Gonzaga defeated Seattle 12-2 on Thursday afternoon at Washington Trust Field and Patterson Baseball Complex.

Feld allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out eight to improve to a season record that has been bolstered by recent dominance. The righthander threw six shutout innings in his previous start against San Francisco. On Thursday he worked around an early home run and settled in, retiring 10 of the last 11 batters he faced before departing after six.

Seattle struck first in the top of the first inning. Payton Knowles homered to deep left field for a two-run lead that would prove to be the Redhawks’ only runs of the game. Knowles finished three for three with a double and a single in addition to the homer, accounting for three of Seattle’s five hits.

Gonzaga answered immediately in the bottom of the first. Ricky Sanchez singled, and a throwing error by Seattle shortstop Grayson Rhein allowed Connor Bell to reach and Sanchez to move to third. A wild pitch then brought Sanchez home unearned, and a sacrifice fly by Noah Meffert scored Bell to tie the game 2-2.

The Bulldogs took the lead for good in the second inning. Jared Eisenstat singled and Wrubleski followed by crushing a two-run homer to deep left field, putting Gonzaga ahead 4-2.

Gonzaga added five runs in the fourth inning. Wrubleski doubled and Bo Shinkle singled him home. After Shinkle stole second and Sanchez walked, a balk moved both runners into scoring position. Bell’s sacrifice fly scored Shinkle. A single by Ethan Young brought home Sanchez for a 7-2 lead.

The Bulldogs extended the margin in the fifth. Wrubleski doubled again and Shinkle singled him home. After a pitching change, Sanchez doubled to score Shinkle for a 9-2 advantage.

Two more runs crossed in the sixth. Young doubled and advanced on a fielder’s choice. Meffert doubled to put runners on second and third, and Hudson Shupe doubled down the left-field line to drive in both, making the score 11-2.

Gonzaga added its final run in the seventh. Sanchez walked and Bell singled. A double by Ryan Hale plated Sanchez for the 12-2 final.

Wrubleski went three for four with a homer and two doubles, driving in two runs. Shinkle was two for four with two RBIs and a stolen base. Sanchez was two for three with a double, a walk and an RBI. Shupe drove in two runs with his double. Meffert had a double and a sacrifice fly.

Joseph Thornton pitched a scoreless seventh inning for Gonzaga, allowing one hit.

Seattle used five pitchers. Jake Morell allowed one earned run in two-thirds of an inning with two strikeouts. Luke Alwood allowed two earned runs in one and one-third innings with two strikeouts.

Seattle dropped to 16-29. Gonzaga improved to 33-17.

The two teams meet again Friday and Saturday in Spokane.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Gonzaga 7-4, while the Interstat ELO system gave Gonzaga an 80.80 percent probability of winning.