University of Washington
Cal Poly
Huskies Hold Off Cal Poly To Win, 9-8
March 20, 2005 | Baseball
March 20, 2005
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The Washington baseball team took a 9-4 lead thanks to three home runs, but had to hold off a rally to beat Cal Poly, 9-8, Sunday at Baggett Stadium.
The Huskies, who scored in the first and then fell behind, 3-1 after the third inning, came back with two in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth to take an 8-3 lead. After the teams each added one more run, the Mustangs mounted a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, coming up only one run short of forcing extra innings.
The UW (13-8) won the series with two wins in the three-game weekend. The Huskies, who had an eight-game win streak broken Saturday, have won nine of their last 10. Cal Poly fell to 15-11 for the season.
An RBI single from Kyle Larsen in the first got the Huskies started. In the third, Poly scored three runs. Brandon Roberts crossed the plate on a bases-loaded wild pitch before a two-run single from Drew Gillmore gave the Mustangs a 3-1 lead.
In the fourth, Husky catcher Matt Lane tied the score at 3-3 with a two-run triple. In the fifth, shortstop Brent Lillibridge hit his sixth home run of the season with one runner aboard to give Washington a 5-3 lead.
In the sixth, freshman Matt Stevens hit a solo homer and Taylor Johnson hit a two-run shot to make it 8-3.
After the Mustangs added a fourth run in the seventh, Johnson singled to drive in the UW's ninth run of the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Mustangs loaded the bases with no outs. A force play at second drove in the first run of the inning. After a lineout, Kyle Blumenthal singled to drive in two more runs. Bret Berglund followed with a triple to put the tying run at third base, but UW senior reliever Josh Conover came on to retire Gillmore on a flyout to end the game.
Husky junior starter Matt Kasser picked up the win to improve to 2-2. He allowed three runs on only two hits over six innings. He walked five and struck out four. Mustang starter Jimmy Shull (2-4) suffered the loss, surrendering eight runs on 10 hits in five and two-thrids. Conover earned his second save.
Johnson led the Husky hitters, finishing the game 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBI. Larsen added three hits and a run batted in in his four at bats.
The Huskies return to the road this Thursday through Saturday as they open the Pac-10 season with a three-game series vs. Arizona in Tucson. Thursday and Friday, game time is 6:00 p.m. PST and Saturday's finale is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. All three games will air live in the Seattle area on KKNW AM-1150.
LINESCORE Non-Conference Washington 9, Cal Poly 8 Washington 100 223 010 -- 9 13 0 Cal Poly 003 000 104 -- 8 8 0 Matt Kasser, Jordan Ponzoha (7), David Dowling (9), Josh Conover (9) and Matt Lane. Jimmy Shull, Tony Saipe (6), Rocky Roquet (8) and Kyle Blumenthal. W - Kasser (2- 2). L - Shull (2-4). Sv - Conover (2). 2B - UW Zach Clem; CP, Brandon Roberts. 3B - UW, Lane; CP, Bret Berglund. HR - UW, Taylor Johnson (6), Brent Lillibridge (6), Matt Stevens (2). T - 3:01. A - 522.
