Haughian shines in UW win over Arizona
Published 11:58 pm Friday, April 4, 2008
SEATTLE — Left-hander Nick Haughian struck out a career-high 15 batters and pitched a two-hit, complete-game shutout as the University of Washington baseball team topped No. 18 Arizona 1-0 Friday night.
The Huskies and Wildcats played in front of 5,187 fans at Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners, who are out of town on a road trip.
Washington improved its record to 19-8 overall and 2-2 in Pac-10 play while the Wildcats fell to 14-9 and 2-5 in conference play.
Senior right fielder Andy Lentz broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lentz finished the game 2-for-3.
Haughian (3-2) got off to a quick start, striking out the first six batters he faced and seven of the first eight. His 15 strikeouts in the game bettered his previous career high of eight. Haughian allowed just a double in the second inning and a single in the fourth, andhe walked three batters in his nine innings.
Arizona All-American Preston Guilmet (3-2) suffered the loss, but the right-hander held the Huskies scoreless through the first 61/3 innings. He gave up one run on four hits.
B oth starting pitchers worked their way out of trouble throughout the first six and a half innings. Arizona had two runners reach second while the Huskies had only one.
The Huskies mounted the game’s first real threat in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Brian Pearl, a Cascade High alum, drew a walk on a full-count pitch.
Catcher Joey Dunn followed with a bunt single and Guilmet’s throw got by the first baseman, allowing Pearl to take third on the error. Lentz followed by hitting a liner over the second baseman’s head and into right-center field, driving in Pearl with the game’s only run.
The Huskies and Wildcats continue the three-game series today at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Husky Ballpark. KKNW (1150 AM) will broadcast both games.
