University of Washington
Portland
Batkoski Homers Twice In 8-1 UW Win
March 08, 2005 | Baseball
March 8, 2005
SEATTLE - Senior Nick Batkoski hit two home runs as the Washington baseball team extended its winning streak to five games Tuesday night with an 8-1 win over Portland at Husky Ballpark.
The Huskies' five straight victories, all at home, have improved their record to 9-7 after they had opened the season 4-7 through their first 11 games. Portland fell to 6-9 with the loss.
UW starter David Dowling, from Juanita High in Kirkland, earned the win to improve to 2-0. The senior southpaw allowed one run on four hits over six innings, walking four and striking out six.
The Huskies got off to a quick start with three runs in the first. Right fielder Taylor Johnson, named the Pac-10 Player of the Week earlier Tuesday, led off by lining a home run to left-center field, his fourth of the year. Later in the first, Batkoski, the Husky third baseman from Federal Way, homered to dead center field with a man aboard, staking the Huskies to a 3-0 lead.
Portland scored its lone run in the second when Justin Pierce walked and eventually scored on a single from Andrew Wrisley, who finished the game with two hits to lead Portland.
The UW stretched its lead to 5-1 with a pair of runs in the third. With two outs, catcher Matt Lane doubled to drive home Zach Clem and Nick Burnham followed with a single to send home Clem.
In the sixth, shortstop Brent Lillibridge drilled a long home run over the scoreboard in left to make it 6- 1. Clem followed with a single and after an out, Batkoski belted a towering homer to left, his second of the night and the season, making the Husky lead 8-1.
Portland's Stephen Ball (0-1), making his first start of the season, allowed five runs on six hits over two and two-thirds innings for the loss. Husky sophomore Jordan Ponzoha retired nine of the 10 Pilot batters he faced over the final three innings, allowing only a single, to pick up a save, his second of the year.
Batkoski led the Husky offense, finishing 2-for-4 with four runs batted in on the two home runs. Clem and Lane added two hits apiece for Washington.
The Huskies play host to Pacific Wednesday and Thursday at Husky Ballpark. Tuesday night's first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. while Wednesday's game gets under way at 3 p.m. Live audio and stats for both games will be available at gohuskies.com.
LINESCORE Non-Conference Washington 8, Portland 1 Portland 010 000 000 -- 1 5 0 Washington 302 003 00X -- 8 10 0 Stephen Ball, Sean Sargent (3), Brian Yoakum (5), Given Kutz (7) and Joe Watson. David Dowling, Jordan Ponzoha (7) and Matt Lane, Joey Dunn (7). W - Dowling (2-0). L - Ball (0-1). Sv - Ponzoha (2). 2B - UW, Lane. HR - UW, Taylor Johnson (4), Nick Batkoski 2 (2), Brent Lillibridge (2). T - 2:34. A - 431.
