University of Washington
UCLA
Huskies Blast Bruins, 16-5, In Regular Season Finale
May 29, 2005 | Baseball
May 29, 2005
LOS ANGELES - The Washington baseball team used two homers from Matt Lane and another from Nick Batkoski to complete a sweep of UCLA Sunday at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Huskies beat the Bruins, 16-5, on the final day of the regular season, keeping their hopes of receiving an NCAA tournament berth alive.
Washington finished the year 33-22 overall and 12-12 in Pac-10 play. With Stanford losing to USC Sunday, the Huskies tied with the Cardinal for sixth place in the conference standings as seven of nine league teams finished at .500 or better in conference play. UCLA fell to 15-41 overall and 4-20 in the Pac-10.
Lane, a sophomore from Port Angeles, finished 2-for-3 with five RBI and four runs scored while Batkoski, a senior from Federal Way, went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in. The UW also got three hits and two RBI each from Matt Hague and Taylor Johnson and two singles and three runs batted in from shortstop Brent Lillibridge.
Husky sophomore Kyle Parker (8-7), who struggled in the early innings, settled in to earn the win. After allowing four runs in the first two innings, he held UCLA to only one hit over his final five innings of work. He finished having allowed four runs on seven hits over seven innings.
The Bruins got in front with two runs in the first inning. A single from right fielder Chris Jensen drove in Will Penniall with the first score and Eric Taylor followed with a double to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.
Washington answered quickly in the second. After Kyle Larsen was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Lane belted the next delivery out to right field for his fifth home run of the season.
In the second, UCLA loaded the bases with no outs on three straight singles. Will Penniall's single put the Bruins on top, 3-2 and Brett McMillan grounded into a double play to plate UCLA's fourth run.
Washington answered back again in the top of the fourth. After Lane was hit by a pitch, Batkoski homered to left to tie the game at 4-4.
In the fifth, the Huskies took their first lead on a three-run shot from Lane, his second of the game and sixth of the year.
Washington scored one more in the sixth and four in the seventh, including one on an RBI single from Batkoski, to increase the lead to 12-4.
UCLA scored its fifth run in the eighth on a solo homer from Jensen. The UW, however, scored four more in the ninth to cap the blowout.
Bruins' senior starter Bryan Beck (1-11) suffered the loss, allowing eight runs on nine hits over six innings.
Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. PDT, the 64-team NCAA tournament field will be announced on ESPN. The Huskies will have no official gathering to watch the announcement, but if they are selected, they will practice Monday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Husky Ballpark. Any press wishing to speak with Husky coaches or players should arrive at the field around 1:30 p.m., if the UW makes the tournament.
LINESCORE Pac-10 Conference Washington 16, UCLA 5 Washington 020 231 404 -- 16 15 1 UCLA 220 000 010 -- 5 9 2 Kyle Parker, Emmanuel Pedroza (8), Brandon McKerney (8), Keaton Everitt (9) and Joey Dunn. Bryan Beck, Daniel Reid (7), Kevin Brophy (7), Garett White (8), Adam Simon (9) and Chris Denove. W - Parker (8-7). L - Beck (1-11). 2B - UW, Taylor Johnson; UCLA, Chris Jensen, Parker Hanks. HR - UW, Matt Lane 2 (6), Nick Batkoski (6); UCLA, Jensen (7). T - 3:08. A - 413.
