March 22, 2004
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - Kyle Larsen hit what appeared to be an inning ending ball to first base in the top of the ninth inning before the ball took a big hop over Gonzaga University first baseman Jeff Culpepper to allow Aaron Hathaway to score from second base with two outs and help the University of Washington Huskies (12-6-1) pull out a non-conference 10-9 over Gonzaga (8-13) on Monday afternoon at Avista Stadium in Spokane. The two clubs will conclude the short two-game series at 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.
The Bulldogs built what appeared to be a comfortable lead scoring four runs in the first inning and one more in the second as Gonzaga jumped out to a 5-2 lead. Matt Reding laced a double down the right field line in the first two score two runs while David Johnson and Brad Welker each added RBI. Culpepper drove home the Bulldogs run in the second with a single to center.
The Huskies cut into the Zags lead in the second inning as Tyler Mach hit an RBI single to center before Brent Lillibridge drew a bases loaded walk against Bulldogs starter Patrick Donovan. Washington continued its offensive attack in the third scoring four runs against the Zags starter and forcing him from the game. Washington connected for three straight run scoring singles to left field by John Otness, Mach and Ben Johnson. Nick Burnham pushed the Huskies out to a 6-5 lead with his single through the right side.
The Huskies increased their lead to 9-5 scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Hathaway drove home two of the runs with a solo home run and RBI single while Mach had a solo blast to account for the other UW run.
Gonzaga struck back in the bottom of the seventh as they loaded the bases against Washington reliever Jamie Hawkins (1-0). Marshall Bratton opened with a single and moved to third on a double by Culpepper. Kiel Thibault loaded the bases on walk and Johnson cleared them with a grand slam to right field, his third home run of the season and fifth RBI of the day. Hawkins would survive the inning and finish the game to pick up his first win of the season.
Bobby McEwen (0-2) was tagged with the loss for Gonzaga despite pitching four innings of relief with just two runs allowed. McEwen had set down two batters on strikes in the ninth before allowing two Washington singles and Larsen's big hop RBI double to right.
Culpepper and Johnson each had three hits for Gonzaga while Hathaway and Mach each finished with four hits for Washington.
In addition to today's contest, Gonzaga senior left-hander Ed Clelland was named the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week after his two-hit performance against Saint Mary's College over the weekend. In that contest Clelland worked eight shutout innings allowing only two SMC hits and one Gaels walk while striking out 12 batters.
