University of Washington
UCLA
Knutson Gets Win No. 423 As UW Beats UCLA, 7-2
May 22, 2004 | Baseball
May 22, 2004
SEATTLE - Ken Knutson became the winningest coach in Washington baseball history Saturday as his 13th-ranked Huskies beat UCLA, 7-2, in a Pac-10 Conference game Saturday at Husky Ballpark.
The win improved Knutson's career record to 423-270-2 in his 12 seasons in charge of his alma mater. Knutson's former coach and mentor, Bob MacDonald, compiled a 422-322-7 record in his 17 seasons (1977-92) at the UW.
The victory also kept the Huskies (34-17-1 overall, 15-8 in the Pac-10) in first place in the conference standings, a half-game ahead of top-ranked Stanford (41-11, 13-7). The Cardinal beat USC, 5-4, Saturday. Washington's magic number for at least a share of the conference title dropped to two, though the Huskies have only one league game remaining while Stanford has four. UCLA fell to 30-26 overall and 11-9 in the league.
UW freshman ace Lincecum (9-2) worked the game's first eight innings to match his previous long of the season, holding the Bruins scoreless on seven hits and three walks while striking out seven.
The start of the game was delayed by about 90 minutes due to rain.
Washington moved out to an early lead with two runs in the first inning. Second baseman Greg Isaacson reached on a one-out walk and scored when catcher Aaron Hathaway tripled off the center field wall. Hathaway made it 2-0 when he scored on Kyle Larsen's grounder to first.
In the fifth, center fielder Brent Lillibridge made it 3-0 when he hit a two-out solo homer to left, his 10th round-tripper of the season. In the sixth, Husky left fielder Zach Clem greeted reliever Kevin Brophy with a three-run homer, Clem's 13th of the year. Freshman designated hitter Matt Lane followed Clem's homer with one of his own and the UW led, 7-0.
UCLA had a few scoring chances in the middle innings. In the third, catcher Chris Denove led off with a double and moved to third on a bunt before Lincecum got a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning. In the sixth, the Bruins loaded the bases with two outs on a single and two walks, but Denove flied to left for the third out.
In the ninth, with freshman Richie Lentz on in relief of Lincecum, the Bruins had two aboard with one out when Jarrad Page hit a ball out of the park to center field. However, Page passed Will Penniall, the baserunner at first, between first and second base and was called out. By rule, both runners scored, but Page was credited only with a two-run single that nonetheless broke up the UW's shutout bid.
Bruins starter David Johnson (2-3) took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits over five-plus innings.
Washington closes out its Pac-10 schedule Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. game vs. the Bruins. Next weekend at Husky Ballpark, the regular season comes to an end with a three-game, non- conference series against UC Irvine.
LINESCORE Pac-10 Conference #13 Washington 7, UCLA 2 UCLA 000 000 002 -- 2 10 0 Washington 200 014 00x -- 7 7 0 David Johnson, Kevin Brophy (6) and Chris Denove. Tim Lincecum, Richie Lentz (9) and Aaron Hathaway. W - Lincecum (9-2). L - Johnson (2-3). 2B - UCLA, Denove. 3B - UW, Hathaway. HR - UW, Brent Lillibridge (10), Zach Clem (13), Matt Lane (5). T - 2:29. A - 433. Records: UCLA 30-26, 11-9 Pac-10; UW 34-17-1, 15-8 Pac-10.
