University of Washington
California
D?j? Vu: Eighth Inning HR Dooms Dawgs Again
March 22, 2015 | Baseball
SEATTLE – For the second-straight game, California third baseman Lucas Erceg hit an eighth inning home run to break a 2-2 tie that lifted the Bears to a 3-2 win over the host Huskies Saturday at Husky Ballpark.
With two outs, Erceg took a 2-0 pitch from Tyler Davis the opposite way over the left field fence for his fifth home run of the year. It ultimately led to the third-straight one-run loss for Washington (13-9, 1-4 Pac-12).
The Huskies had a chance to tie or win the game in the ninth, but after back-to-back two out walks, Cal closer Dylan Nelson got UW third baseman Alex Schmidt to ground out to end the game.
Davis (4-2) once again pitched brilliantly for Washington, but took the hard-luck loss. He threw his second career complete game, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out six. The All-American from Mountain View, Calif. has gone eight innings or longer in three-straight games.
Washington's offense outhit Cal 12-6 and put pressure on the Bears' pitching staff all day long, but the Huskies stranded 12 baserunners, compared to four for Cal.
The Huskies had Bears' starter Ryan Mason on the ropes early and often, but could not push a runner across the plate until the third inning. Jack Meggs led off the inning with an infield single – his second hit of the game for his team-leading ninth multi-hit game. After Meggs was sacrificed to second, Branden Berry reached on an infield single of his own to put runners on the corners. The next batter Schmidt chased Meggs home with a deep sacrifice fly to left field.
The Huskies' 1-0 lead did not last very long though. Davis retired the first nine batters he faced in order, throwing just 22 pitches, only two of which were balls. He fell behind 3-0 to the lead-off hitter Chris Paul in the fourth inning, but was able to battle back and run the count full. But, on a 3-2 offering, Davis grooved a pitch that Paul jumped all over and hit over the left-center field fence for his fifth home run of the year.
Cal wasn't done in the fourth as they added another run to take the 2-1 lead. After a hit batter and a single, designated hitter Mitchell Kranson flared a RBI single into the outfield just out of the reach of UW second baseman Levi Jordan.
The Huskies tied the game back up at 2-2 in the fifth, pushing an unearned run across the plate. Braden Bishop struck out to lead off the inning, but he reached first safely when strike three hit the ground and the catcher, Brett Cumberland, pulled the first baseman off the bag with his throw. After a fielder's choice and a groundout, shortstop Chris Baker drove home Berry from second with a double into the left-center gap. The hit was Baker's second of the day and gave him eight over the last three games.
That would be all the runs for the Huskies, as Mason and two relievers shutdown the Huskies from there. Alex Schick (1-0) pitched the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win for Cal (17-5, 4-1). Nelson recorded the final out of the game to pick up his fourth save of the season.
Berry and Levi Jordan each had three hits to lead Washington, while Baker and Meggs had two hits apiece.
The Huskies and Bears wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m. Senior Josh Fredendall (2-0, 4.29) takes the hill against Cal freshman left-hander Matt Ladrech (3-2, 1.67).
California 3, Washington 2
CAL 000 200 010 –- 3 6 1
WASH 001 010 000 –- 2 11 0
LOB: CAL 4, UW 10. Tyler Davis and Joey Morgan; Ryan Mason, Alex Schick (7), Dylan Nelson (9) and Brett Cumberland. W – Schick (1-0). L – Davis (4-2). Sv – Nelson (4). HR – CAL, Chris Paul (5), Lucas Erceg (5). 3B – none. 2B – UW, Chris Baker, Alex Schmidt. Time – 2:26. Attendance – 617.
