University of Washington
California
Huskies Hold Off California For 5-4 Win
April 16, 2005 | Baseball
April 16, 2005
SEATTLE - Sophomore Kyle Parker held California to two runs over seven and two-thirds innings and freshman Matt Hague drove in two runs on three hits as the Washington baseball team beat California, 5-4, Saturday at Husky Ballpark in the second game of a three-game conference series. The Huskies took a 2-0 lead in the series, having won 5-1 Friday night.
The win improved the Huskies' record to 23-13 overall and 4-4 in the Pac-10. Washington has won 19 of its last 25 games and is now 14-2 in home games this season. California fell to 23-16, 5-6 in conference play.
Parker (6-4), a right-hander from Yakima's West Valley High, earned the victory. He allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Down 5-2 entering the ninth inning, the Bears mounted a comeback off of UW freshman reliever Brandon McKerney. With one on and one out, right fielder Jeremy Burchett, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh, belted a homer into the Cal bullpen in left field, drawing the Bears within one run. However, UW seniors David Dowling and Josh Conover came on to retire one batter each to end the game with Conover earning his fifth save in the process.
The Huskies got a quick lead in the first inning as Cory Rickard scored on a single from Hague, the UW's right fielder from Kentwood High. Hague, who worked his way into the batting order three weeks ago, is now 21-for-43 (.488) with 13 RBI on the season after going 3-for-5 in the game.
In the third, Hague came through again, singling to drive in Zach Clem, who walked to begin the inning. The Huskies went on to load the bases with two outs and Joe Todoroff came on in relief of starter Michael Cooper. Todoroff walked UW freshman catcher Joey Dunn on four straight pitches to force in the Huskies' third run before getting a groundout to end the inning with Washington in front, 3-0.
The Huskies tacked on a fourth run in the fifth when Nick Batkoski singled and eventually scored on a two-out single from second baseman Mike Rundle.
Cal, which had been held scoreless on three hits over the game's first five innings, finally broke through in the sixth. With two outs, Chris Errecart singled and cleanup hitter Brennan Boesch followed with his seventh home run of the year, cutting the UW's lead in half.
Washington got a run back in the bottom of the sixth when Batkoski delivered a two-out RBI single.
Cooper, Cal's starter, fell to 3-2 with the loss. He surrendered three runs on seven hits over two and two-thirds innings. Lillibridge, who went 2-for-4 with a double, extended his hitting streak to 13 games, longest of the year by a Husky. James Holder had three hits in four at bats to lead the Bears.
The Huskies and Bears close out the series Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The game will air live on KKNW AM-1150. That radio broadcast, as well as live stats, is also available on the internet via gohuskies.com.
LINESCORE Pac-10 Conference Washington 5, California 4 California 000 002 002 -- 4 10 0 Washington 102 011 00X -- 5 14 0 Michael Cooper, Joe Todoroff (3), Alex Trafton (7) and Garrett Bussiere, Travis Howell (7). Kyle Parker, Brandon McKerney (8), David Dowling (9), Josh Conover (9) and Joey Dunn. W - Parker (6-4). L - Cooper (3-2). Sv - Conover (5). 2B - UW, Brent Lillibridge. HR - Cal, Brennan Boesch (7), Jeremy Burchett (2). T - 2:47. A - 450.
