University of Washington
Gonzaga
Huskies Win Home Opener, 7-5, Over Gonzaga
February 20, 2004 | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2004
SEATTLE - Despite a three-run homer from Gonzaga catcher Kiel Thibault in the first inning, the No. 23 Washington baseball team came back to beat the Bulldogs, 7-5, Friday at Husky Ballpark in the UW home opener. It was the earliest home date in Husky history.
Washington (3-1) got four hits from shortstop Brent Lillibridge and three more from catcher Aaron Hathaway. All-America closer Will Fenton increased his shutout streak to 41.1 innings, throwing the eighth and ninth innings for his first save of 2004.
After surrendering the three-run homer to Thibault in the first, Husky freshman starter Richie Lentz settled in, keeping the Zags off the board the following four innings before being relieved to start the sixth.
In the meantime, Washington got a pair of runs in the second on an RBI double from third baseman John Otness and a sacrifice fly from Greg Isaacson. In the third, the UW tied it at 3-3 when Lillibridge singled, stole second and scored on a Hathaway single.
A solo homer from freshman DH Matt Lane in the fourth gave the UW its first lead and a Hathaway triple in the fifth drove in Taylor Johnson to make it 5-3.
However, with junior reliever Joel Villalobos on in relief of Lentz, Gonzaga got a two-run homer from shortstop Aaron McGuinness in the sixth inning, tying the score at 5-5.
Washington took the lead back for good in the seventh when Lillibridge doubled and scored on a Taylor Johnson single. Otness, who finished 2-for-4, led off the eighth with a home run to close out the scoring.
GU starter Eric Dworkis (1-1) suffered the loss, throwing seven-plus innings, allowing seven runs on 13 hits and no walks while striking out 10. Lentz surrendered only two hits, walked five and struck out five in five innings.
Villalobos got the win with two innings of relief while Fenton faced the minimum over the final two innings to nail down the save.
The Huskies and Bulldogs continue the three-game series tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. game at Husky Ballpark.
LINESCORE #23 Washington 7, Gonzaga 5 Gonzaga 300 002 000 -- 5 4 0 Washington 021 101 10x -- 7 14 0 Eric Dworkis, Chris Albrecht (8) and Kiel Thibault. Richie Lentz, Joel Villalobos (6), Will Fenton (8) and Aaron Hathaway. W - Villalobos (1-0). L - Dworkis (1-1). Sv - Fenton (1). 2B - UW, John Otness, Brent Lillibridge. 3B - UW, Hathaway. HR - GU, Thibault (1), Aaron McGuinness (1); UW, Matt Lane (1), Otness (2). T - 2:39. A - 729.
