University of Washington
UC Santa Barbara
Dawgs Down UCSB, 6-5, With Run In Ninth
March 05, 2005 | Baseball
March 5, 2005
SEATTLE - After forcing in the tying run with a bases-loaded walk in the top of the ninth inning, right fielder and relief pitcher Taylor Johnson scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to lead the Washington baseball team to a 6-5 win over UC Santa Barbara Saturday at Husky Ballpark.
Johnson, a senior from Vancouver, Wash., came in from right to make his second career relief appearance with the bases loaded, two outs and the Huskies ahead, 5-4, in the top of the ninth and walked Bill Rowe to tie the game. However, in the bottom of the ninth, he walked to lead off and eventually scored on a two-out single from first baseman Kyle Larsen.
The win moved the Huskies (7-7) to .500 for the first time this season while the Gauchos dropped to 8-8 after two losses to the UW.
The Huskies opened the game with five runs in the bottom of the first inning, notching four hits and taking advantage of a pair of Gaucho errors. With Johnson aboard at second on a single and a stolen base, Andy Lentz struck out. However, the third strike was in the dirt and catcher Matt Kalafatis' throw to first sailed high, allowing Johnson to score the game's first run.
Brent Lillibridge followed with a double to drive in Lentz, and after Larsen was hit by a pitch, Zach Clem doubled to drive in Lillibridge. After a strikeout, Curt Rindal's flyout sent Larsen in before Clem scored on a throwing error by third baseman David Figoni to make it 5-0. But the UW wouldn't score again until the final inning.
UCSB scored its first runs in the fourth. Chris Malec led off with a double and eventually scored on a groundout. Later in the inning, Chris Valaika singled, stole second and scored on a Kalafatis single.
The Gauchos continued to rally in the eighth. With reliever Keaton Everitt on in relief of Husky starter Matt Kasser to begin the inning, Malec belted his second double of the game with one out. After Matt Wilkerson singled, Rowe doubled to drive in Malec, cutting the UW lead to 5-3.
In the ninth, the Gauchos scored both of their runs on bases-loaded walks, the first off of Husky senior Josh Conover and the second off of Johnson. Freshman Brandon McKerney (1-0) got the final out in the inning and picked up his first career win when the UW scored in the bottom of the final frame.
In the bottom of the ninth, Johnson, who has reached base in all nine of his plate appearances in the series, walked to lead off. A sacrifice bunt from Mike Rundle advanced him to second, but Lillibridge struck out for the the second out. Larsen followed with a single to left and Johnson scored without a throw home being made to win it.
The UW will try to close out a three-game series sweep Sunday in a 1:00 p.m. game. The seven-game homestand will continue with a game vs. Portland Tuesday and two against Pacific Wednesday and Thursday. Live stats and audio for all games is available at gohuskies.com
LINESCORE Washington 6, UC Santa Barbara 5 UC Santa Barbara 000 200 012 -- 5 8 2 Washington 500 000 001 -- 6 9 0 Michael Martin, Loren Fraser (7) and Matt Kalafatis, Jack Pinkerton (9). Matt Kasser, Keaton Everitt (8), Matt Hague (8), Josh Conover (9), Taylor Johnson (9), Brandon McKerney (9) and Matt Lane. W - McKerney (1-0). L - Fraser (1-2). 2B - UCSB, Chris Malec 2, Bill Rowe; UW, Brent Lillibridge, Zach Clem, Taylor Johnson. T - 3:06. A - 465.
