U N I V E R S I T Y O F W A S H I N G T O N HUSKY BASEBALL Phone: (206) 685-7910 Fax: (206) 543-5000 Web Site – www.gohuskies.com THIS WEEK . February 26, 2007 Contact: Jeff Bechthold ([email protected]) Tuesday, February 27 Huskies Open 12-Game Homestand Portland at Washington Husky Ballpark, 3:00 p.m. vs. Portland, UC Irvine audio and/or video at gohuskies.com THIS WEEK: The Washington baseball team (1-5) opens a 12-game homestand that stretches over the next three weeks as Portland and UC Irvine visit Husky Ballpark. The Dawgs take on the Pilots (3-3) Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. in the 2007 Friday, March 2 home opener while UC Irvine (10-2-1 prior to a game Tuesday at Pepperdine) visit for a three-game series this weekend. UC Irvine at Washington Friday’s first pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. Saturday’s game starts at 2:00 p.m. and on Sunday, the teams close out the Husky Ballpark, 3:00 p.m. series with a 1:00 p.m. game Sunday. The homestand continues Monday and Tuesday when Southern Utah visits for a audio and/or video at gohuskies.com pair of games. The Huskies will send sophomore RHP Geoff Nichols to the mound Tuesday. On Friday, sophomore RHP Jorden Merry gets the ball. Saturday, a pair of sophomore southpaws will start for the UW as Nick Haughian and Tyler Cheney, respectively, are slated to start. After this weekend Pacific and CS Northridge come to Seattle for three- Saturday, March 3 game, non-conference series the following two weekends. Here’s a look at this week’s action: UC Irvine at Washington Tuesday, February 27: Portland at Washington, 3:00 p.m. PST – live video at gohuskies.com Husky Ballpark, 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 2: UC Irvine at Washington, 3:00 p.m. PST – live video at gohuskies.com audio and/or video at gohuskies.com Saturday, March 3: UC Irvine at Washington, 2:00 p.m. PST – live audio at gohuskies.com Sunday, March 4: UC Irvine at Washington, 1:00 p.m. PST – live video at gohuskies.com Sunday, March 4 SERIES HISTORY: Portland is Washington's most regular non-conference opponent, which makes sense since UC Irvine at Washington the University of Portland is the closest Division I baseball program to Seattle. The UW leads the all-time series, 81-42- Husky Ballpark, 1:00 p.m. 1. Last year, the Huskies won four of six meetings against the Pilots, taking two of three both on the road and at home. audio and/or video at gohuskies.com Portland was a member of the Pac-10 Northern Division up until 1996. The Huskies have also played UC Irvine regularly since the Anteaters' baseball program was revived several years ago. The all-time series is tied at seven wins apiece. The teams last played in 2005, when the UW opened the season by dropping all three in a series in Irvine. In 2004, the COMING UP . Huskies closed the regular season by sweeping the Anteaters at Husky Ballpark. Mon.-Tue. March 5-6 COACH “K”: In 2004, Husky baseball coach Ken Knutson became the winningest baseball coach in the history Southern Utah at Washington of the program. That accomplishment is just one item on Knutson’s impressive resume. In his 14-plus seasons at the helm of his alma mater’s baseball team, Knutson has led the Dawgs to two Pac-10 championships, four Pac-10 Northern two-game, non-conference series Division titles and six NCAA Regionals. He enters this week needing just two more wins to reach 500 as career record now stands at 498-325-2 (.605). Before becoming the head man in 1993, Knutson served as the UW pitching coach for Fri.-Sun., March 9-11 eight seasons. In 1985, his staff led the NCAA with a 2.80 ERA. Knutson holds a 246-109-2 (.692) record in home games. Pacific at Washington He is 205-149 (.579) in Pac-10 games. He’s coached 46 first-team All-Pac-10 selections in 13 seasons, and has been three-game, non-conference series named league coach of the year three times. A 1981 All-Pac-10 pitcher at the UW, he is joined by assistants Joe Ross, Donny Harrel, Tighe Dickinson and undergrad assistant Jeff James. QUICK PITCHES . PROBABLE STARTERS: Here’s a look at the probable starters at each position, with 2007 stats and notes: Pos. Player, Year Avg.-HR-RBI Notes • Husky head coach Ken Knutson, C – Joey Dunn, Jr. .182-0-1 Has caught every inning of every game thusfar 1B – Curt Rindal, Sr. .227-2-4 Lone senior on roster; hit two homers at ECU tournament already the winningest baseball coach 2B – Bradley Boyer, So. .462-0-1 In two starts at ECU (1 each at 2B, 3B), belted four doubles in UW history, needs only two more Brian Pearl, Fr. .083-0-1 Has started 3 of UW’s 6 games at second base wins for his 500th career victory. 3B – Matt Hague, Jr. .304-0-0 Moves to 3B from RF; .entered ‘07 with .394 career average SS – Danny Cox, So. .200-1-2 Regular shortstop as freshman, started 52 of 61 games • The Huskies have finished in the top OF – Michael Burgher, So. .200-0-0 Started one and played in another at CF at ECU tourney OF – Kyle Conley, So. .350-0-3 Has started all 6 games in 2007, hitting safely in all 6 12 in the nation in home runs each of OF – Andy Lentz, So. .316-0-0 Has started 5 of 6 games this season in center field the last four seasons (5th in 2006, 12th OF – Jake Rife, Fr. .000-0-1 Started season opener and one at ECU in left field in 2005, 6th in 2004 and 2nd in 2003). OF – Matt Stevens, Jr. .133-0-0 Started 4 of 6 so far in RF; 17 HRs 2nd in Pac-10 last year However, they have yet to hit any hom- DH – Ty Rasmussen, RS-Fr. .100-0-0 Transfer from Louisiana-Lafayette started 3 of 6 at DH ers in three games this season. Trevor Petersen, So. .250-0-1 Slugging sophomore has stated two games at DH THIS WEEK’S HUSKY BASEBALL PLANNER . H Mon. 26 Tue. 27 Wed. 28 Thu. 1 Fri. 2 Sat. 3 Sun. 4 C Portland at UC Irvine at UC Irvine at UC Irvine at AR M Practice Washington Practice Washington Washington Washington Husky Ballpark Husky Ballpark Off day Husky Ballpark Husky Ballpark Husky Ballpark Husky Ballpark 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. FEB./ University of Washington Athletics • Media Relations • 229 Graves Building • Box 354070 • Seattle, WA 98195-4070 NATIONAL RANKINGS WASHINGTON BASEBALL FEBRUARY 26, 2007 Baseball America KNUTSON Closing IN ON #500: Husky head coach Ken Knutson is already the winningest baseball coach Top 25 (Feb. 27, 2007 poll) in UW history, but he has another milestone on the horizon. Knutson, who enters the week with a career record of 498- 1. North Carolina 7-0 325-2, is only two wins shy of his 500th career victory. Entering this season, only 16 Pac-10 coaches have ever reached 2. Clemson 6-1 500 career victories, a group than includes legends like USC's Rod Dedeaux, Arizona's Jerry Kindall and Jim Brock and 3. Vanderbilt 10-0 Bobby Winkles of Arizona State. Knutson took over at his alma mater prior to the 1993 season and is in his 15the year in 4. South Carolina 8-1 charge. Only Stanford's Mark Marquess has more seniority or more wins among current Pac-10 coaches. 5. Arkansas 9-3 6. Rice 9-4 PROMOTIONS THIS WEEK: This Saturday and Sunday, any fans who present their ticket stub from the UW 7. Virginia 10-1 men's basketball game vs. UCLA (Sat., Mar. 3) will receive free admission to the Husky baseball games vs. UC Irvine. 8. Florida State 13-0 Additionally, Tuesday's game vs. Portland is a "$2 Tuesday," in which fans can purchase a ticket, a hot dog and/or a soda 9. Oregon State ★ 11-2 for $2. Friday is "Family Friday," when for $25, you receive four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas. All Saturdays and 10. Cal State Fullerton 9-4 Sundays are "Little League Day," when kids can join the Huskies on the field for the National Anthem and run around the 11. Wichita State 8-2 bases after the game. Also, at all four games this week, schedule magnets will be given away. 12. Miami 6-5 13. Texas 9-6 HUSKIES AT SAFECO FIELD: Washington's home game against Oregon State on Friday, May 4, will be played 14. Arizona State ★ 10-3 at Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners. The Huskies and Beavers will square off in the first game of a three-game 15. Georgia Tech 6-4 Pac-10 series at 7:30 p.m. that night, and the game will air live on FSN television. Tickets are only $5 for adults and $3 for 16. San Diego 11-5 children and seniors and all UW home game ticket policies will apply (i.e., family plan, group tickets are available and UW 17. Pepperdine 10-3 students and Olympic Sports Pass holders will be admitted free).