University of Washington
Wichita St
Shockers Come Back To Avoid Sweep
April 23, 2000 | Baseball
April 23, 2000
WICHITA - After giving up four runs in the first inning, 23rd-ranked Wichita State came back to beat Washington, 11-4, to avoid a three-game sweep Sunday at Eck Stadium.
Wichita State (28-12) has never been swept at home in a three or four-game series in 22 seasons under Gene Stephenson. The Shockers, in fact, haven't been swept in a two-game series since 1984. Washington, which had won eight straight non-Pac-10 games, fell to 18-21 on the season.
The game got off to a wild start in the top of the first inning. With leadoff man Marc Rittenhouse aboard at first after getting hit by a pitch, Matt Hollod sent a ball out of the park down the left field line. Home plate umpire Mike Hall ruled it a home run, eliciting a lengthy and heated protest from the Shocker coaches and players. The next pitch from WSU starter Brandon Sloan sailed over the head of UW designated hitter Jay Garthwaite, and both teams' dugouts emptied, though no punches were thrown.
Garthwaite, as well as right fielder Tyler Davidson, eventually walked before left fielder Daniel Jahn belted a double that gave Washington a 4-0 lead.
The Shockers battled back, scoring a run in the first, two in the second and another in the fifth to tie the score at 4-4. However, during that stretch, the Shockers left the bases loaded in the second and third and left two on in the fourth.
WSU finally took its first lead in the seventh, helped along by a UW error. With runners at first and second, Tanner Welch's single gave the Shockers a 5-4 lead and put runners at first and second. The next batter, Blake Blasi, hit a line drive in and out of the glove of Husky third baseman Michael Done. Done tried to throw to second base to get a force out, but the throw sailed into right field, allowing two runners to score and extending the Shocker lead to 7-4. WSU added four more in the eighth.
UW reliever Taylor Grant (1-4) worked four and two-thirds to take the loss. Sloan (6-4) threw seven innings for his fourth straight victory and Greg Bauer pitched two innings for his ninth save.
Washington returns to Husky Ballpark Wednesday to take on St. Martin's in a 6:30 p.m. game. The Huskies return to Pac-10 action next weekend with a three-game series at Oregon State.
LINESCORE Non-Conference Game #23 Wichita State 11, Washington 4 Washington 400 000 000 -- 4 8 1 Wichita State 120 010 34x -- 11 14 0Sean White, Taylor Grant (2), Cam McCoy (7), Brian Barton (8), Tyler Shepple (8), Matt Gardner (8) and Tim Rice, Jefferson Thiel (7). Brandon Sloan, Greg Bauer (8) and Dustin Bozarth. W - Sloan (6-4). L - White (1-2). Sv - Bauer (9). 2B - UW, Daniel Jahn, WSU, Blake Blasi 2, Pat Magness. HR - UW, Matt Hollod (2). T - 3:03. A - 2,542.
