University of Washington
Washington State
Cougs Rally In The Seventh For 3-2 Win
April 10, 2015 | Baseball
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State scored twice in the seventh to overcome a 2-1 deficit and beat the Huskies 3-2 in game one of the Pac-12 series Thursday night at Bailey-Brayton Field. The loss was the sixth by one run in Pac-12 play for the Huskies (18-13, 5-8 Pac-12).
Washington wasted little time in jumping ahead of their cross-state rivals Cougars (16-16, 4-9), but saw their lead slowly evaporate.
Lead-off batter Jack Meggs took a 1-1 pitch from WSU starter Sean Hartnett over the right-field fence for the 1-0 lead in the first. The ball hit the white line just at the top of the fence and carried out of the park for Meggs' first career homer.
Washington took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Braden Bishop led off the inning with a double and came around to score eventually on a ground out. With the infield drawn in and one out, shortstop Chris Baker hit a slow-roller to the second baseman Ian Sagdal. Bishop took off immediately from third and was able to score when Sagdal wisely took the easy out at first.
The Cougars cut the lead in half in the fifth, scoring a run on an unlucky bounce. No. 8 hitter J.J. Hancock led off the inning with a double. When the next batter Jack Strunc flew out to short right, Hancock took off to third, testing the arm of right fielder Meggs. The play at the bag was going to be close, but Meggs' throw hit Hancock in the back and bounced away allowing him to be safe and score on the throwing error.
That would be the final inning of the game for Huskies' starter Noah Bremer. In five innings of work, the freshman allowed just the one run on six hits, striking out two, while walking one. He left with a 2-1 lead after throwing 62 pitches.
The UW bullpen could not hold the lead though. The Cougars tied it up in the seventh on a RBI triple by Hancock off Spencer Jones (2-6) and took the 3-2 lead when Strunc blooped a single over the drawn in infield off Brandon Choate. The Cougars could have got more in the inning if not for a diving catch in centerfield by Bishop to end the threat.
Washington was in position to tie the game back up in the top of the eighth and ninth, but was unable to push a run across the plate. In the eighth, the Huskies had runners at second and third with one out, but came away empty handed when Levi Jordan popped out to second and Bishop grounded out to the pitcher.
In the ninth, WSU closer Ian Hamilton hit Branden Berry to start the ninth, but a failed sacrifice bunt and eventual 4-6-3 double play sent the Huskies home with the loss.
Matt Bower pitched an inning to earn his Pac-12 leading seventh win. Hamilton recorded his 9th save of the season.
Washington was outhit 9-4 on the night.
The Huskies and Cougars continue the series Friday at Bailey-Brayton Field with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT (Pac-12 Networks). Washington will send Tyler Davis (5-2, 1.89) to the hill against defending Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week Joe Pistorese (4-3, 2.68).
Washington State 3, Washington 2
WASH 100 100 000 –- 2 4 1
WSU 000 010 20x –- 3 9 1
LOB: UW 4, WSU 5. Noah Bremer, Spencer Jones (6) and Joey Morgan; Sean Hartnett, Matt Bower (7), Sam Triece (8), Ian Hamilton (9) and J.J. Hancock, Brennon Kaleiwahea (8). W – Bower (7-2). L – Jones (2-6). Sv – Hamilton (9). HR – UW, Jack Meggs (1). 3B – WSU, J.J. Hancock. 2B – UW, Braden Bishop; WSU, Hancock, Derek Chapman. Time – 2:27. Attendance – 813.
