University of Washington
USC
UW Falls To USC, 2-1, In Home Pac-10 Opener
April 01, 2005 | Baseball
April 1, 2005
SEATTLE - USC All-America pitcher Ian Kennedy struck out 13 in six and two-thirds innings to lead the Trojan baseball team to a tight 2-1 win over Washington Friday night at Husky Ballpark.
Kennedy (4-1), a sophomore right-hander, allowed six hits, but only one run to pick up the victory for USC (16-8 overall, 2-2 in the Pac-10). He out-dueled Husky ace Tim Lincecum (4-4), who surrendered two runs on five hits over seven and one-third innings.
The Huskies (17-11 overall, 1-3 in the Pac-10) saw their streak of 13 straight home victories, dating back to last season, broken in the loss. The UW is now 10-1 at home in 2005.
USC took the early lead in the second when second baseman Hector Estrella, who entered the game with only one RBI in 43 at bats all season, hit a two-run homer to left-center field.
The Huskies had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second when Matt Lane doubled and Curt Rindal singled to lead off the inning. However, Kennedy went on to strike out three UW batters to end the inning before fanning the side in order in the third.
The UW's next big threat came in the seventh. Rindal singled and Taylor Johnson walked to put runners at the corners with two outs. Paul Koss came on in relief of Kennedy to face Brent Lillibridge. Koss walked Lillibridge to load the bases and Zach Clem followed with an infield single off the glove of diving first baseman Matt Cusick, driving in Rindal with the UW's first run. Kyle Larsen, however, grounded out to end the inning with USC still on top, 2-1.
The Huskies got a baserunner in the ninth when freshman pinch hitter Matt Hague reached on a infield single, but Koss finished up to earn his fifth save.
The Huskies and Trojans continue the three-game series Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The game will air live in the Northwest on FSN television. Live audio and stats are also available at gohuskies.com.
LINESCORE Pac-10 Conference USC 2, Washington 1 USC 020 000 000 -- 2 6 0 Washington 000 000 100 -- 1 8 0 Ian Kennedy, Paul Koss (7) and Jeff Clement. Tim Lincecum, David Dowling (8), Josh Conover (9) and Matt Lane. W- Kennedy (4-1). L - Lincecum (4-4). Sv - Koss (5). 2B - UW, Lane. HR - USC, Hector Estrella (1). T - 3:23. A - 526.
