University of Washington
New Mexico State
Dawgs Open With Stunning 12-11 Loss At NMSU
February 10, 2006 | Baseball
Feb. 10, 2006
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Senior Zach Clem hit two home runs - a grand slam and a three-run shot - to stake the Washington baseball team with an eight-run lead, but New Mexico State stormed back to win, 12-11 in 11 innings in the Huskies' season opener Friday at Presley Askew Field.
The Huskies (0-1) took the lead on Clem's seventh-inning grand slam, which broke a 3-3 tie. In the eighth, Clem made it 11-3 with his second homer of the day.
However, the Aggies (3-2) scored eight runs - all of them on homers - in the eighth to tie the game. A solo homer from DH Adam Harvey started the inning, followed by a three- run blast from second baseman Jason Long and a game-tying grand slam from catcher Brandon Lance.
NMSU won the game in the 11th inning when a two-out single from center fielder Vince Godden drove in Long from third.
UW sophomore Elliott Cribby, a JC transfer in his first Husky appearance, suffered the loss despite allowing only the one run in three and one-third innings of relief. Aggie reliever Brian Gausman (1-0) held the Huskies to only one hit in his three innings for the victory.
The game showed no inkling of final score through the first six innings as NMSU led by a 3-1 count after six. Husky starter Tim Lincecum threw five innings, allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
Washington scored the game's first run in the second inning, when junior catcher Matt Lane led off with a long home run to right-center fielder, giving the Huskies a 1-0 edge.
New Mexico State's first six hitters in the game were retired in order before Long walked to lead off the third. After a passed ball and a wild pitch moved him to third, he scored on a long sacrifice fly from Joseph Godinez, tying the score at 1-1.
In the fifth, Godinez and shortstop Abe Aguirre laced back-to-back doubles down the left-field line to put the Aggies on top. Aguirre eventually scored on a single from Luke Hopkins, giving NMSU a 3-1 lead.
Washington finally mounted a rally in the seventh. After singles from Matt Stevens and Danny Cox and a walk to Ryan Anderson loaded the bases, sophomore center fielder Michael Burgher followed with a chopper up the middle through a drawn-in infield, driving in two runs to tie it at 3-3.
Releiver Beto Romo came on in place of starter Jason Conner and, after a strikeout and a walk loaded the bases with one down, gave up Clem's grand slam. In the eighth, UW sophomore Ryan Anderson led off with his first career homer before Clem followed later in the inning with his second.
Clem finished the game 2-for-4 with seven runs batted in. The UW also got two hits each from Cox, Anderson and Burgher. Rodden led NMSU with three hits.
The Huskies and Aggies continue the three-game series Saturday at noon Pacific time. A live audio broadcast will be available on the Dawg Channel at gohuskies.com.
LINESCORE Non-Conference New Mexico State 12, Washington 11, 11 innings Washington 010 000 640 00 -- 11 11 0 New Mexico St. 001 020 080 01 -- 12 15 1 Tim Lincecum, Brandon McKerney (6), Bryce Mooney (6), Nick Haughian (7), Jason Erickson (8), Nick Hagadone (8), Elliott Cribby (8) and Matt Lane, Joey Dunn (8). Jason Conner, Beto Romo (7), Kyle McFadden (8), Dustin Brown (8), Brian Gausman (8) and Brandon Lance, Marcus Quade (11). W - Gausman (1-0). L - Cribby (0-1). 2B - NMSU, Jason Godinez, Abe Aguirre, Murray Gilbertson. HR - UW, Lane (1), Zach Clem 2 (2), Ryan Anderson (1); NMSU, Adam Harvey (1), Jason Long (1), Lance (1). T - 3:47. A - 257.
