University of Washington
California
Huskies Fall To Cal, 9-3, In Pac-10 Opener
March 24, 2006 | Baseball
March 24, 2006
BERKELEY, Calif. - Preseason All-America righty Brandon Morrow lead California to a 9-3 win over the Washington baseball team Friday at rainy Evans Diamond in both teams' Pac-10 Conference opener.
Morrow, who came into the game with a 1.29 earned run average, improved his record to 5-0 on the year with the victory. The hard-throwing junior threw seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, no walks and eight strikeouts.
Cal improved to 13-10 overall and 1-0 in Pac-10 play while the Huskies fell to 17-8 and 0-1.
Husky sophomore Nick Hagadone (1-1) took the loss in his first college start. Hagadone, who didn't return to the mound after a rain delay, allowed four runs on six hits over three innings.
Cal got off to a quick start, belting three doubles in the first inning, leading to three runs. Mike Van Winden doubled to lead off. He eventually scored on a a fielder's choice groundout from Brennan Boesch. Boesch scored on a double from Chris Errecart and Errecart made it 3-0 on a two-base hit from Josh Satin.
In the bottom of the third, the Bears increased the lead to 4-0 when Brett Munster singled, stole second and scored on a two-out single from Errecart.
Washington got back into the game with a three-run fourth inning. After back-to-back singles from catcher Matt Lane and first baseman Curt Rindal to open the inning, senior left fielder Zach Clem followed with an opposite-field home run to right, his eighth of the season, to cut the Cal lead to 4-3. Directly after the homer, the rain that had been falling intermittently throughout the game increased, leading to a 44-minute delay.
Cal added to its lead with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth. In the fourth, Garrett Bussiere singled and eventually crossed the plate on an error from Husky third baseman Matt Stevens. In the fifth, Brennan Boesch led off with his sixth home run of the season, upping the Bears lead to 6-3.
In the seventh, three Husky errors, including two on bunts, led to three more runs for the Bears.
Clem's homer accounted for all three Husky runs. He also doubled in his four at bats. Lane and Rindal also finished 2-for-4 in the game.
The series continues with 1:00 p.m. games Saturday and Sunday. Both will air live on radio on KKNW AM-1150.
LINESCORE Pac-10 Conference Game California 9, Washington 3 Washington 000 300 000 -- 3 9 5 California 301 110 30x -- 9 9 1 Nick Hagadone, Kyle Parker (4), Nick Haughian (6), Tim Lincecum (7), Matt Kasser (8) and Matt Lane. Brandon Morrow, Craig Benningson (8) and Garrett Bussiere. W - Morrow (5-0). L - Hagadone (1-1). 2B - UW, Zach Clem, Lane; Cal, Mike Van Winden, Chris Errecart, Josh Satin. HR - UW, Clem (8). T - 2:59. A - 233.
