University of Washington
Utah
Huskies Hold On For 3-2 Win Over Utah
May 24, 2015 | Baseball
SEATTLE – Washington scored three runs early in the game and held for a 3-2 win over Utah Saturday night at Husky Ballpark. The win guarantees the Huskies (28-25, 13-16 Pac-12) both a series victory and a winning season.
For Washington, the win was just the second one-run victory in Pac-12 play against 10 losses. The Huskies, picked to finish ninth in the Pac-12 pre-season poll, guaranteed themselves no worse than a seventh-place finish in Conference play.
“This was a huge win for us,” said Husky Coach Lindsay Meggs. “It not only guarantees us a winning season, but it allows us to go into the off-season feeling a lot better about ourselves.”
The Huskies scored twice in the first inning and once in the second, thanks to a combined six two-out hits, which proved to be enough run support for Tyler Davis and two relievers.
Davis (8-6), a senior making his 50th and final start as a Husky, went six innings in his collegiate finale. He picked up his 23rd career victory – good for fourth all-time in UW history – and finished his career with a school record 358 2/3 innings pitched.
The offense gave Davis a lead to work with in the first inning, and he never relinquished it. Austin Rei got a two-out rally started in the first with a double, and Alex Schmidt followed with an infield single. Rei never stopped running once he touched third and scored on all the way from second.
Branden Berry singled to put runners on the corners, and Chris Baker singled to center to score Schmidt and give the Huskies the 2-0 lead.
Utah designated hitter Kellen Marruffo hit a solo shot off Davis to cut the lead in half at 2-1 in the second, but the Huskies got the run back in the bottom half of the inning. Braden Bishop reached on a two-out single and Jack Meggs followed with a hit-and-run double that easily scored the speedy Bishop.
The Utes cut the lead to one run in the fifth on their second homer of the game, this one by right fielder Josh Rose. But, Rose's homer that went off the batter's eye in centerfield, would be the last ounce of offense by either team.
Davis struck out five to finish his career with 247, fourth most in school history and gave up five hits, before handing the ball over to the bullpen in the seventh.
Once again, the Huskies' relief corps was stellar, holding the lead for Davis and extending the group's scoreless streak to 21-straight innings.
Troy Rallings saved the day – and the game – in the eighth entering into a bases loaded jam with one out. He struck out Marruffo for the second out and got a fly out from Biss Larsen to end the threat. He then mowed the Utes down in order in the ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season – the 15th of his career.
Rallings is now tied with Nick Hagadone for fifth on the UW career saves list.
Utah starter Dalton Carroll (5-9) was the tough-luck loser. He scattered eight hits over seven innings and struck out four.
The Huskies outhit Utah (16-35-1, 7-21-1) 8-5. Schmidt was 2 for 4, the only Husky with more than one hit.
Washington goes for the sweep tomorrow with senior Josh Fredendall taking the hill at 3:00 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks). Seven seniors will be honored prior to first pitch at around 2:40 p.m.
Washington 3, Utah 2
UTAH 010 010 000 –- 2 5 0
WASH 210 000 00x –- 3 8 1
LOB: UTAH 7, UW 6. Dalton Carroll, Brock Duke (8) and AJ Young; Tyler Davis, Spencer Jones (7), Troy Rallings (8) and Austin Rei. W – Davis (8-6). L – Carroll (5-9). Sv – Rallings. HR – Utah, Kellen Marruffo (2), Josh Rose (2). 3B – none. 2B – UW, Austin Rei, Jack Meggs, Alex Schmidt, Matt Jackson. Time – 2:34. Attendance – 833.
