University of Washington
Gonzaga
UW Hits Five Homers, Lincecum Fans 13 In 14-4 Win
February 24, 2006 | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2006
SEATTLE - Tim Lincecum struck out 13 in six innings and the Husky hitters belted five home runs as the Washington baseball team rolled to a 14-4 win over Gonzaga Friday afternoon in its home opener at Husky Ballpark.
Lincecum (2-0), who struck out 15 in a six-inning start last Friday at Cal State Northridge, earned the win, allowing three runs on only two hits and three walks. The Huskies improved to 6-2 with the win while the Zags fell to 7-4.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first inning. After two walks and a strikeout to open the inning, Lincecum walked Zach Woodward to load the bases. After a second strikeout, Will Ayala laced a single through the left side, driving in two runs before a third strikeout ended the inning.
Washington notched its first run in the second inning when sophomore third baseman Matt Stevens blasted a long solo homer to left, cutting the Zags lead in half.
In the third, freshman DH Jake Rife led off with the first homer of his Husky career and the score was tied at 2-2. Andy Lentz followed Rife with a bunt single and, after stealing second, he scored on a double from Matt Hague, giving the UW a 3-2 lead.
Later in the third, with Hague and Matt Lane aboard, first baseman Curt Rindal homered to deep right-center, a three-run shot that increased the Huskies lead to 6-2.
Washington tacked on three more off of Gonzaga starter Bobby McEwen in the fifth. After a pair of singles and a walk to begin the inning, McEwen was replaced by Josh Bryant, who struck out the first two Huskies he faced before Danny Cox drew a bases- loaded walk to force in one. Ryan Anderson followed with a two-run single to right to stretch the lead to 19-2.
In the meantime, Lincecum had cruised since the first retiring 15 Bulldog hitters in a row before right fielder Zach Woodward hit a two-out solo homer in the sixth. In the eighth, the Zags got another solo shot, Jackson Brennan's fifth homer of the year, to cap their scoring for the afternoon.
Washington got a solo homer from Lentz to lead off the sixth and in the eighth, freshman pinch hitter Kyle Conley finished the hit parade with a three-run homer, has first as a Husky.
McEwen (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing nine earned runs on seven hits over four-plus innings. UW relievers Bryce Mooney, Nick Hagadone and Jason Erickson combined for three more strikeouts as the Husky staff totaled 16 on the day.
Rindal, who drove in a run with sacrifice fly, finished the day 1-for-3 with four RBI to lead the Huskies. Hague had three hits and Stevens and Lentz each had two.
The Huskies and Bulldogs continue the series Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. A live audio broadcast of the game will be available at gohuskies.com.
LINESCORE Non-Conference Washington 14, Gonzaga 4 Gonzaga 200 001 010 -- 4 3 0 Washington 015 032 03x -- 14 14 1 Bobby McEwen, Josh Bryant (5), Matt Fields (7) and Tyson Van Winkle, Nick Merriman (8). Tim Lincecum, Bryce Mooney (7), Nick Hagadone (8), Jason Erickson (9) and Matt Lane, Joey Dunn (8). W - Lincecum (2-0). L - XXX. 2B - UW, Matt Hague 2. HR - GU, Zach Woodward (1), Jackson Brennan (5); UW, Matt Stevens (4), Jake Rife (1), Curt Rindal (3), Andy Lentz (1), Kyle Conley (1). T - 2:39. A - 423.
