University of Washington
Arizona
Huskies Edge Cats, 7-6, With Run In Ninth
April 24, 2004 | Baseball
April 24, 2004
SEATTLE - Junior Aaron Hathaway closed out a 4-for-5 game by driving in the game-winning run on a fielder's choice groundout in the bottom of the ninth to lead Washington to a 7-6 win over Arizona Saturday at Husky Ballpark.
With runners at the corners, one out and closer Derek Rodriguez on to pitch, Hathaway bounced a grounder to third. UA third baseman Moises Duran attempted to turn a double play, throwing to second for an out. However, Hathaway narrowly beat out the throw to first, allowing the winning run to cross. Hathaway finished 4-for-5 with two runs batted in and a double. Husky center fielder Brent Lillibridge hit two home runs in the game.
Husky junior first baseman Kyle Larsen led off the bottom of the ninth with a double down the left-field line. After Larsen was replaced by pinch runner Taylor Johnson, Nick Batkoski grounded back to the pitcher, leaving Johnson at second. While Arizona reliever Mark Melancon was attempted to intentionally walk Matt Lane, his third pitch went wild, allowing Johnson to move to third.
The win was Washington's fourth in a row and gave the Huskies (23-13-1 overall, 7-4 Pac-10) a 2-0 lead in the weekend series vs. Arizona (21-17-1, 5-6).
Melancon (4-4) took the loss, despite allowing only one run over three and two-thirds innings of relief. Husky closer Will Fenton, who wild pitched home Arizona's tying run in the top of the ninth, got the victory to improve to 4-3. UW senior Trent Baysinger threw five and one-third innings of relief, allowing one run.
The Wildcats used four walks from Husky starter Matt Kasser to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After three bases on balls loaded the bases with one out, Nick Hundley singled to drive in a run. A passed ball plated a second run and a Richard Mercado sacrifice fly made it 3-0.
Washington, however, got two runs back in the bottom of the first. Lillibridge, a sophomore from Everett, led off the inning with his seventh home run of the season. Then, Greg Isaacson, who had walked and stolen second, tried to advance to third on a grounder back to the mound from Larsen. However, Guyette's throw to third was wild and Isaacson scored to cut the Wildcats lead to 3-2.
Arizona made it 5-2 in the third when designated hitter Bill Rhinehart led off the inning with his fifth home run of the center. Hundley followed with a double and after moving to third on a long flyout, he scored on a Mercado groundout.
Washington scored in the third when Hathaway singled to score Batkoski from second base, cutting the Arizona lead to 5-3. Lillibridge then hit his second homer of the day with none on and one out in the fifth to make it 5-4.
The Huskies completed the come back in the fifth, taking a 6-5 lead with a pair of runs. With two on, John Otness' sacrifice fly tied it before Ben Johnson singled through the right side to score Hathaway with the go-ahead run.
Arizona, held scoreless since the third inning by Baysinger, tied the game in the ninth. John Hardy doubled to lead off and moved to third on fly ball. With one out, Fenton came on to face Jeff Van Houten. Fenton's full-count pitch went wild, putting Van Houten aboard and allowing Hardy to score to tie it at 6-6.
Sunday, the series wraps up with a 1:00 p.m. start.
LINESCORE Pac-10 Conference Washington 7, Arizona 6 Arizona 302 000 001 -- 6 7 2 Washington 201 120 001 -- 7 12 0 Kevin Guyette, Mark Melancon (5), Derek Rodriguez (9) and Richard Mercado. Matt Kasser, Trent Baysinger (4), Will Fenton (9) and Ben Johnson. W - Fenton (4-3). L - Melancon (4-4). 2B - UA, Nick Hundley, John Hardy; UW, Aaron Hathaway. HR - UA, Bill Rhinehart (5); UW, Brent Lillibridge 2 (8). T - 3:09. A - 1,231. Records: UA 21-17-1, 5-6 Pac-10; UW 23-13-1, 7-4 Pac-10.
