MORAGA, Calif. -- West Coast Conference play rolls on for the Saint Mary's baseball team as the Gaels hit the road for the first of two consecutive weekends away from home with a trip to Gonzaga for three games.
The series begins Friday at 6 p.m. when the Gaels and Bulldogs meet at Patterson Baseball Complex. Saturday's game is also slated for a 6 p.m. start and Sunday's series finale begins at noon. Live video of all three games will be available through SMCGaels.com and live statistics can be found via links on the site as well.
Saint Mary's heads back on the road with a 19-13 overall record and 6-6 mark in the WCC after winning one game of three against preseason conference favorite Loyola Marymount last weekend. The Gaels won Thursday's contest 3-1 behind a complete game effort from pitcher Corbin Burnes but the Lions rebounded to take Friday and Saturday's games to win the series.
Thursday's win offered a glimpse of what the Gaels have come to expect from their ace this season as Burnes was simply dominant in outdueling former WCC Pitcher of the Year Colin Welmon. The sophomore right-hander allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out seven to toss his third complete game of the season. Burnes now owns a 5-2 record and 2.45 ERA entering this week's start, and he'll work on an extra day of rest this week when he takes the ball Friday in Spokane.
Fellow rotation mainstay Johnny York will take the ball Saturday and he'll look to continue what has been a strong start to his Saint Mary's career. The lefty from Walnut Creek, Calif. has a 5-2 record and 3.09 ERA through eight starts, and both he and Burnes are tied for second in the WCC in wins entering his week's action.
This weekend's trip will also feature a return to the rotation as junior Anthony Gonsolin is projected to make his first start of the season on Sunday against the Bulldogs. Having served as the Gaels' closer so far this season, Gonsolin owns a 1-0 record, 1.54 ERA and seven saves in 11 appearances this year. The right-hander pitched on the weekend for much of 2014, compiling a 2-6 record and 4.32 ERA in 12 appearances (eight starts).
At the plate, SMC will look for continued consistency up and down the lineup. Third baseman Anthony Villa leads the Gaels in several offensive categories, and he's hitting .413 in 12 conference games this season. Fellow third baseman and designated hitter Logan Steinberg is hitting a team-best .424 in 11 WCC games while also leading the conference in overall hitting at .403.
Gonzaga enters the weekend with a 15-17 overall record and 5-7 WCC record after dropping a 4-2 decision to Washington State on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are on a definite roll when it comes to conference play though, having taken two of three from first place San Diego last weekend in Spokane.
Pitching is also a strong point for the Bulldogs, and that starts with a pair of quality starters to lead off the weekend. Right-handers Brandon Bailey and Andrew Sopko have posted impressive numbers so far this year, with Bailey carrying a 5-1 record and 2.58 ERA into action this weekend. Sopko has also been a standout, and he takes a 4-3 record with a 2.39 ERA into play. Freshman left-hander Calvin LeBrun has also started most weekends and he has a 2-4 record with a 5.50 ERA.
On offense, Gonzaga also relies on production from the hot corner to lead the way. Senior Mitchell Gunsolus is the team's leading hitter, entering the weekend with a .333 average and 12 extra-base hits. He leads the team in home runs, triples and runs scored while also slugging .496 to lead the club. Leadoff man Sam Brown is also enjoying a standout year, hitting .331 in 32 games played.
After the trip north, Saint Mary's returns to Moraga for a brief stay before heading back on the road. The Gaels will host San Jose State on April 14 at 3 p.m., then set their sights on a trip to always-tough Pepperdine for three games next weekend. WCC action returns to Louis Guisto Field on April 24-26 when San Diego comes to town.
