University of Washington
Santa Clara
Huskies Lose Opener at Santa Clara, 5-2
February 20, 2005 | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Senior Kellan McConnell surrendered only one run while striking out 10 over seven and two-thirds innings, leading Santa Clara to a 5-2 win over 12th-ranked Washington Sunday in the first game of a three-game series at Buck Shaw Stadium.
The loss dropped the UW to 0-4 on the season while Santa Clara improved to 7-3. The two teams will play game two of the doubleheader Sunday afternoon before the series finale Monday at 1:00 p.m.
UW ace Tim Lincecum (0-2) suffered his second loss in two starts this season. The sophomore righty gave up five runs on seven hits and five walks over five innings of work, striking out four.
McConnell, a fifth-year senior, improved to 1-1 on the year, limiting the UW to the one run on eight hits and no walks.
Santa Clara jumped out to a quick lead with a run in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Ryan Chiarelli reached on an infield single and moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt. With one down, center fielder Robert Perry lined a double to left field to drive in Chiarelli, giving the Broncos the early 1-0 edge.
In the third, Chiarelli once again reached on an infield single. After a passed ball moved him to second, he advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Perry singled to drive home Chiarelli and after moving to third on a single, scored on a sacrifice fly from catcher Kris Watts to increase the Broncos lead to 3-0.
In the sixth, Santa Clara loaded the bases on a walk, a single and a hit by pitch. Jason Matteucci then drew a walk from Lincecum to force in a run and end Lincecum's day on the mound. UW freshman reliever Matt Hague got a double play from the first batter he faced, but a run scored on the play to increase the Santa Clara lead to 5-0.
Washington, in the meantime, was able to put runners aboard throughout much of the game. However, no UW runners reached third until the eighth inning when the Huskies finally broke through with a run.
UW right fielder Taylor Johnson singled to lead off the eighth. After stealing second, he moved to third on a flyout and scored on single from Nick Batkoski.
In the ninth, the Huskies scored their second on a two-out RBI from Johnson, his third hit of the game, but Andy Lentz, trying to advance from first, was thrown out at third base for the final out of the game.
The Huskies and Broncos will close out their three-game series Monday with a 1:00 p.m. game. Live audio and stats are both available at gohuskies.com.
LINESCORE Non-Conference Doubleheader - Game One Santa Clara 5, #12 Washington 2 Washington 000 000 011 -- 2 10 1 Santa Clara 102 002 00x -- 5 9 2 Tim Lincecum, Matt Hague (6), Brandon McKerney (9) and Matt Lane. Kellen McConnell, Donald Brandt (8), Thomas Van Buskirk (9), Anthony Rea (9) and Kris Watts. W - McConnell (1-1). L - Lincecum (0-2). Sv - Rea (1). 2B - SCU, Robert Perry. T - 2:57.
