Baker's RBI Double Propels UW To 2-1 Win In 10 Innings

Friday, February 26

Riverside, CA

6:00 PM

University of Washington

3-1

UC Riverside

2-3

Washington

UC Riverside

Photo by: Washington Athletics

February 27, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. – Junior Chris Baker doubled home MJ Hubbs in the 10^th inning to break a 1-1 tie and lift the Huskies to a 2-1 victory Friday night against UC Riverside (2-3). Six Washington pitchers combined to strikeout 11 Highlanders' batters and allowed just one unearned run on the night in helping the Huskies (3-1) take game one of a four-game series at Riverside Sports Complex.

After MJ Hubbs stretched a single into a double with one out in the 10^th for his third hit of the game, Baker followed by sending an 0-2 pitch into the left-field corner, allowing Hubbs to score the go-ahead run.

Closer Troy Rallings came into the game in the bottom of the 10^th and struck out two, including Michael Ferris to end the game. For Rallings, it was his 17^th career save, tying him with Cody Morrison for fourth all-time in UW history.

He saved the game for Spencer Jones (1-0), who pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win.

Both starting pitchers were knocked out of the game in the sixth inning as neither team scored until each team pushed a run across the plate in that inning. Both runs were unearned as they both came across the plate on passed balls.

The Huskies had the lead-off hitter on base in five of the first six innings and had runners in scoring position in four of those innings, but it took until the sixth to break a 0-0 deadlock. In the top of the inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, UC Riverside catcher Casey Worden allowed a passed ball and John Naff trotted home from third base to make the score 1-0.

The Huskies didn't get a chance to see if they could add more to their lead in the inning, though. After Kyle London walked for the fourth time of the game to load the bases back up, Hubbs was picked off of third base by Worden.

This proved costly as UC Riverside tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning on a passed ball by Washington freshman catcher Willie MacIver. Center fielder Vince Fernandez, who reached on a two-out single and advanced to third on a single, scored when relief pitcher Greg Minier's first pitch went by MacIver.

The Huskies offense threatened to score in each of the final three innings of regulation, but could not capitalize. They pounded out 11 hits and drew 11 bases on balls, but they also struck out 14 times, had two runners thrown out at third, two more thrown out at home and stranded 13 base runners.

"While I'm disappointed in the way we swung it, I give our guys credit for finding a way to win," said UW Coach Lindsay Meggs. "It's not easy to win a one-run game on the road in extra innings. We showed some toughness tonight."

For the second straight game, the bullpen minimized the opponent's offense and held on for the victory. Minier, Alex Nesbitt, Ryan Schmitten, Jones and Rallings combined to allow two hits, and a walk, while striking out seven in 4 1/3 combined innings.

Washington's bullpen has now thrown 13 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball over the last two games.

Sophomore starter Noah Bremer went 5 2/3 innings and gave up five hits, allowed one unearned run, walked one and struck out four, but did not figure in the decision.

Hubbs was 3-for-5 and Baker was 2-for-4, the only Huskies with multi-hits.

The two teams will play a double header Saturday with game one starting at 11 a.m. and game two starting at approximately 3:00 p.m. Freshman Joe DeMers (0-0, 1.80) will take the hill for the Huskies in game one and senior lefty Will Ballowe (0-0, 99.00) will start in game two.

Washington 2, UC Riverside 1 (10^th inning)

UW 000 001 000 1 –- 2 11 0
UCR 000 001 000 0 –- 1 6 0

LOB: UW 13, UCR 7. Noah Bremer, Greg Minier (6), Alex Nesbitt (7), Ryan Schmitten (8) and Willie MacIver, Joey Morgan (9); Austin Sodders, Alex Falgade (6), Keaton Leach (7), Jared Morton (9), Jacob Worrell (10), Ryan Lillie (10) and Casey Worden. W – S. Jones (1-0). L – Worrell (0-1). Sv – Rallings (2). HR – none. 3B – none. 2B – UW, Gage Matuszak, MJ Hubbs, Chris Baker. Time – 3:40. Attendance – N/A.