University of Washington
Cal State Northridge
Huskies Fall To Northridge In Ninth, 8-7
February 20, 2006 | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2006
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - After taking a 7-6 lead on a two-run, ninth-inning homer from Zach Clem, the Washington baseball team fell to Cal State Northridge, 8-7, as the Matadors scored two in the bottom of the ninth Monday, avoiding a four-game series sweep.
Washington (5-2) saw a five-game winning streak come to an end while Northridge (7-6) snapped a four-game losing streak.
Down 6-5 heading into the ninth, the UW got a leadoff bunt single from freshman Bradley Boyer. After a sacrifice bunt moved him to second, Clem belted a long shot to left-center, his fifth homer in seven games this season, to give the Huskies the lead for the third time in the game.
However, in the bottom of the ninth, the Matadors' first two hitters in the inning reached on a walk and a hit batsman. After a sacrifice bunt, freshman reliever Nick Haughian intentionally walked Todd Shelton to set up the force at any base. However, he walked pinch hitter Chase McGuire to force in the tying run and then the UW was unable to turn a double play on a grounder to second from Scott Lyons as the winning run scored.
Haughian (0-1) took the loss while Joe Rocchio (1-0), who retired the only batter he faced in the top of the ninth, got the win.
The Matadors, who led 4-1 early in the game, got the lead back in the bottom of the seventh. With the score tied at 5-5 and after a leadoff single followed by two outs, the Matadors loaded the bases on a walk and a hit batter. Reliever Nick Hagadone's first pitch to Alex Bardeguez got by catcher D.J. Neyens for a passed ball, allowing Kris Kasarjian to score the go-ahead run, giving the Matadors the lead at 6-5.
The UW got on the scoreboard in the first without the benefit of a base hit. After leadoff man Jake Rife walked to open the game, he moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt. Boyer followed with a sacrifice fly and the Huskies led, 1-0.
Northridge quickly tied it, however, as Jonathan Sakurai singled to lead off the first and eventually scored on a single from Brett Blumenthal.
In the second, the Matadors moved in front with three more runs. Run-scoring singles from Sakurai and Kasarjian pushed two across and an errant throw after Kasarjian's single sent Sakurai home to give CSUN a 4-1 lead.
Washington struck back in the top of the third. Danny Cox doubled to lead off. After a walk to Michael Burgher and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out, a groundout from Boyer and a single from Matt Hague scored a pair of runs to cut the lead to 4-3.
In the fourth, with Matt Lane aboard via a walk, third baseman Matt Stevens belted his third homer of the series to put the UW back on top, 5-4.
Northridge tied the game at 5-5 with a run in the sixth when Richard Cates scored from third on a wild pitch.
Friday through Sunday, the Huskies open the home slate with a three-game series vs. Gonzaga. PLEASE NOTE that Friday's game time has been moved up to 2:00 p.m. due to the weather forecast. Saturday's game also begins at 2:00 p.m., and first pitch Sunday is 1:00 p.m.
LINESCORE Non-Conference CS Northridge 8, Washington 7 Washington 102 200 002 -- 7 7 1 CS Northridge 130 010 102 -- 8 10 2 Matt Kasser, Geoff Nichols (5), Nick Hagadone (5), Bryce Mooney (8), Nick Haughian (9) and D.J. Neyens, Matt Lane (8). Jimmy Jolicoeur, Jimmy Brettl (4), Taylor King (8), James Scott (9), Joe Rocchio (9) and John Parham, Adam Fleener (9). W - Rocchio (1-0). L - Haughian (0-1). 2B - UW, Danny Cox; CSUN, Jorge Andrade Jr. HR - UW, Matt Stevens (3), Zach Clem (5). T - 3:21. A - 247.
