University of Washington
Cal State Northridge
CSUN Rallies For 3-2 Win Over Huskies
May 16, 2015 | Baseball
SEATTLE – Washington jumped out to an early 2-0 lead Friday night at Husky Ballpark, but they could not hold on and dropped the first game of a three-game series, 3-2, to CSUN (Cal State Northridge).
The Matadors (30-22) scored twice in the sixth inning to take the lead and ultimately send the Huskies (26-23) to their 11th one-run loss of the season.
Both of the Huskies' runs came in the second inning and were unearned. CSUN starter Calvin Copping was poised to get out of the inning undamaged, but an error at shortstop by Yusuke Akitoshi on a ground ball by Will Sparks extended the inning.
Two batters later and with the bases loaded, Levi Jordan hit a ground ball to second. Everybody was safe, and an additional run scored when first baseman Nolan Bumstead misplayed the routine throw at the bag to give Washington the 2-0 lead.
CSUN clawed back into the game and cut the Huskies' lead in half with a run in the top of the third. Ryan Raslowsky singled home Dylan Alexander, who doubled to lead off the inning.
The score remained 2-1 until the sixth, when the Matadors scored twice to take the lead for good.
Starter Noah Bremer hit Chester Pak with his first pitch of the inning to end his day on the hill, and reliever Brandon Choate allowed the next two batters to reach on a single and walk to load the bases with nobody out.
Spencer Jones, the third pitcher of the sixth for the Huskies, gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Albee Weiss and Alexander, but was that was all CSUN would get. Jones got a force at home on a comebacker to the mound, and then struck out the next hitter. He got out of the jam on a ground out to first.
Washington looked poised to tie the game or take the lead in the home-half of the sixth, but Jack Meggs was thrown out at home for the first out of the inning trying to score from first on a double by Austin Rei. After a walk to Alex Schmidt put runners on the corners, Branden Berry swung away with a 3-0 count and hit into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.
That proved to be the best opportunity for Washington to score in the late innings.
The Huskies put the tying run on second with two outs in the ninth, but closer Conner O'Neil struck out pinch-hitter Josh Cushing to end the game for his 10th save of the season.
Copping pitched six innings to pick up the win and even his record at 6-6.
Choate (1-3) faced two batters in the sixth and took the loss for Washington. Bremer went five innings and Jones went the last four inniings, allowing only the two hits in the sixth.
The Matadors outhit the Huskies 7-4. Alexander was 3 for 4 to lead CSUN.
Meggs had two of the Huskies four hits, while Schmidt and Rei picked up the others.
The two teams continue their series Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Senior Tyler Davis (7-5, 3.01) will go for the Huskies, while the Matadors will counter with LHP Jerry Keel (4-7, 2.76).
CSUN 3, Washington 2
CSUN 001 002 000 –- 3 7 2
WASH 020 000 000 –- 2 4 1
LOB: CSUN 8, UW 5. Calvin Copping, Nick Viola (7), Angel Rodriguez (8), Conner O'Neil (8) and Dylan Alexander; Noah Bremer, Brandon Choate (6), Spencer Jones (6) and Austin Rei. W – Copping (6-6). L – Choate (1-3). Sv – O'Neil (10). HR – none. 3B – none. 2B – CSUN, Dylan Alexander; UW, Austin Rei. Time – 2:44. Attendance – 616.
