March 19, 2004

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

PULLMAN, Wash. -- - Washington State erupted for seven runs in the eighth inning, including Zach McAngus's grand slam home run, to hand the visiting Washington Huskies an 11-5 non-conference baseball loss Friday in WSU's home opener at Bailey-Brayton Field.

The Cougars overcame an early 4-0 Washington lead with a single run in the third, two runs in the fifth and another single tally in the seventh to pull even with the Huskies going into the eighth. WSU then took advantage of four walks, three singles and McAngus' second home run of the game to jump on top 11-4.

Garrett Alwert (1-1) picked up the win for WSU (13-5), throwing the final one and two-thirds inning while allowing just one hit and one run. Aaron MacKenzie started on the mound for WSU and worked six innings while allowing seven hits and the first four Washington runs. Dane Renkert recorded four outs without giving up a hit in relief of MacKenzie.

Washington (10-5-1) started Tim Lincecum, who only gave up two hits in six innings of work. He allowed three runs, two earned, and struck out seven. Trent Baysinger took over for Lincecum (1-1) and was tagged with the loss before Will Fenton and Matt Kasser finished up for the Huskies.

Husky leadoff hitter Brent Lillibridge collected a pair of home runs for the visitors, a solo shot on the first pitch of the game, and then a solo home run in the ninth, his fifth four-bagger of the year. The Huskies, after jumping on top 1-0, added to their advantage in the third, scoring three more run for a 4-0 lead. Kyle Larsen had the big hit in the third, a two-run double. Matt Lane also had a run-producing single for Washington's second run.

MacKenzie, after allowing four hits in the first three innings, settled down and was touched for just two hits and no runs over the next three frames.

Meanwhile the Cougars chipped away at the lead. WSU scored its first run in the third when McAngus scooted home on Justin McClure's ground ball that slipped under Larsen's glove at first for an error. In the fifth WSU pulled to within one run 4-3 on Brandon Reddinger's run-scoring double. Reddinger later came home on Kaeo Rubin's sacrifice fly to center field.

In the seventh McAngus belted his first home run as a Cougar to lead off the inning. His grand slam an inning later also cleared the right center field fence in nearly the same location.

Collin Henderson drove home a pair of insurance runs in the eighth with a crazy-hop single past a diving Larsen at first and Rubin also plated a run with a single up the middle.

Friday's game was the first played on WSU's renovated field that features a FieldTurf artificial surface throughout the playing field, other than around home plate and the pitcher's mound. The two teams continue their three-game series with a single contest Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The final game is set for 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

Washington 103 000 001 - 5 8 2
WSU 001 020 17x - 11 8 0
Tim Lincecum, Trent Baysinger (7), Will Fenton (8), Matt Kaser (8) and Aaron Hathaway.
Aaron MacKenzie, Dane Renkert (7), Garrett Alwert (8) and Brandon Reddinger.
W - Alwert (1-0). L - Baysinger (1-1). Save - None. HR - Lillibridge 2 (4), McAngus 2 (2).
T - 3:20. A - 189.
Washington Hits - .Lillibridge 3, Lane 2, Larsen, Tucker 2.
WSU Hits - Kaeo 3, Henderson, Ja. Miller, McAngus 2, Reddinger.
E - Larsen, Lincecum. 2B - Lane (3), Larsen (2), Tucker (1), Reddinger (4). 3B - None.