University of Washington
Utah
Rei's Eighth Inning Homer Wins It For UW
May 25, 2015 | Baseball
SEATTLE – Austin Rei hit a solo home run in the eighth inning for the only run of the game as Washington held Utah to two hits in a 1-0 victory Sunday at Husky Ballpark.
Rei's homer came off Utah reliever Brock Duke on a 2-2 pitch with one out. His seventh home run of the year set off a wild celebration and allowed the Huskies to take a deep sigh of relief in what had been a white-knuckle game.
“In the eighth inning, I was just trying to get something together,” said Rei, who had struck out twice previously. “The offense was struggling for both teams – really good pitching both sides – and I took advantage of one mistake.
“Sometimes that is all it takes to win a ballgame.”
With the lead, Spencer Jones came in to pitch a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his third save of the season.
The win gave the Huskies (29-25, 14-16 Pac-12) a sweep of the series. For Utah (16-36-1, 7-22-1), they ended the season on a seven-game losing skid.
“It was a great finish for us, and it allows us to take a little momentum with us when we're back out here in the fall,” said Husky Coach Lindsay Meggs.
“You're always chasing that good feeling. That's what this game is all about – confidence and feeling good when you're playing well. So, you couldn't have ordered it up better than this – a one-run game, with a home run late and to come out on the plus side of a one-run game on senior day.”
The Huskies ended up winning their last three one-run games in Pac-12 play after losing their first 10 in Conference action.
Josh Fredendall, a 24-year-old, sixth-year senior, got the start in his final appearance as a Husky and he made it a memorable one. The right-hander allowed a single in the first inning to lead-off batter Kody Davis, but that was it.
Fredendall struck out five, walked three and did not allow a run before handing the ball over to the bullpen in the sixth with the game scoreless.
“I think the best part of it all was that there were no nerves,” said Fredendall, who missed the previous two seasons with an arm injury. “It was just fun. From the get go, you could see all the seniors have the biggest smile on their faces. I think that was the best part, and that's what made it easy to go out there and just compete. I love these guys.”
Utah's starter Jayson Rose was equally impressive. He gave up four hits and struck out eight batters in 6 2/3 innings of scoreless work.
Both teams had very few offensive threats, but third baseman Alex Schmidt quelled Utah's best chance in the eighth. After a two-out double and intentional walk off Ryan Schmitten, Cody Scaggari smashed a grounder that looked heading down the left-field line. The senior Schmidt dove and snared the grounder and touched third base with his glove to get the force out.
The Huskies' bullpen finished the year with 25-straight scoreless innings – including four today. Brandon Choate pitched a perfect sixth inning in his school record 34th appearance this season.
Ryan Schmitten allowed just one hit in two innings of relief.
Senior Matt Jackson closed out his career with two hits, the only Husky with multiple hits.
Washington 1, Utah 0
UTAH 000 000 000 –- 0 2 1
WASH 000 000 01x –- 1 5 0
LOB: UTAH 5, UW 7. Jayson Rose, Brock Duke (7) and AJ Young; Josh Fredendall, Brandon Choate (6), Ryan Schmitten (7), Spencer Jones and Austin Rei. W – Schmitten (2-1). L – Duke (2-6). Sv – Jones (3). HR – UW, Austin Rei (7). 3B – none. 2B – Utah, Wade Gulden. Time – 2:35. Attendance – 1,130.
