Huskies Split Doubleheader After Highlanders Rally In 12 innings

Saturday, February 27

Riverside, CA

3:00 PM

University of Washington

4-2

UC Riverside (DH)

3-4

Washington

UC Riverside

Photo by: Washington Athletics

Huskies Split Doubleheader After Highlanders Rally In 12 innings

February 28, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. – Drake Zarate hit a walk-off RBI single in the 12^th inning to give UC Riverside a 6-5 win over the Huskies and a split of a double header Saturday at Riverside Sports Complex.

Zarate hit an 0-2 pitch from Westin Wuethrich (0-1) into right-center field with the bases loaded, scoring Thomas Walker from third base to complete a wild comeback. The Huskies (4-2) led 5-1 after three innings, but could not fend off the feisty Highlanders (3-4).

Washington won the first game of the doubleheader 17-4 and looked to be in a good position to complete the sweep. Like in game one, the Huskies jumped out to a first inning lead. John Naff reached on a two-out single and came around to score on a Josh Cushing double aided by an error in left fielder by Walker.

The Huskies made it 2-0 in the second on a RBI single by Levi Jordan that scored Chris Baker, who led off the inning with a double. But UC Riverside responded with a run of its own off Husky starter Will Ballowe in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead in half.

It was the first of four earned runs Ballowe allowed in 4 1/3 innings of work. He ended up allowing six hits, but he struck out four and did not walk a batter.

The bats continued to scorch for the Huskies in the third inning. MJ Hubbs hit a RBI double and freshman Willie MacIver sent two more runs home with a double of his own – picking up the first two RBI's of his college career – to give the Huskies a 5-1 lead.

That would be all the runs Washington would score and the Huskies' advantage was chipped away quickly by the Highlanders. They scored once in the fourth and three more times in the fifth to tie the score at 5-5.

UC Riverside sent nine men to the plate and had five hits in the fifth. The big blow came on a two-run home run by center fielder Vince Fernandez off reliever Greg Minier that tied the game up. The Highlanders would continue the onslaught and load the bases after the homer, but Ryan Schmitten, the fourth pitcher of the inning, induced a fielder's choice ground-out to wiggle out of the inning without allowing any further damage.

The Highlanders' starter Richard Delgado settled down after his team tied the score back up. He pitched into the ninth inning without allowing a run over his final five innings. But neither starter figured in the decision as the teams went into extra innings for the second time in two days.

Washington had several chances to take the lead late, including loading the bases with one out in the top of the 12^th. But Hubbs struck out and Chris Baker lined out to end the threat. UC Riverside pitcher Ryan Lillie (1-0) struggled in the 12 inning, but he earned earned the win.

"I'm proud of our guys for competing the way they did," said UW Coach Lindsay Meggs following his team's 7 1/2 hour day at the ballpark. "We really swung the bats well in game one.

"Game two was a tough loss, no question about it. But this group will bounce back. If we can take care of business tomorrow, we can make this a good trip."

The Huskies had 12 hits (30 in the two games), but left 10 runners on base during the second game. Jordan was 3 for 5 and Jack Meggs (2 for 6) and Hubbs (2 for 6) each had two hits to lead UW's offense.

Walker led UC Riverside going 4 for 5 with two runs. The Highlanders had 16 hits.

The teams wrap up the series Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

GAME 2: UC Riverside 6, Washington 5 (12 innings)

UW 113 000 000 000 –- 5 12 0
UCR 010 130 000 001 –- 6 16 2

LOB: UW 10, UCR 12. Will Ballowe, Lance Berringer (5), Lance Berringer (5), Greg Minier (5), Ryan Schmitten (5), Spencer Jones (8), Troy Rallings (9), Westin Wuethrich (12) and Willie MacIver, Joey Morgan (8); Richard Delgado, Keaton Leach (9), Ryan Lillie (12) and Casey Worden. W – Ryan Lillie (1-0). L – Weuthrich (0-1). Sv – None. HR – UCR, Vince Fernandez (1). 3B – none. 2B – UW, Chris Baker; UCR – Ian Nowak. Time – 4:10. Attendance – 364.

GAME 1: Washington 17, UC Riverside 4

UW 552 110 030 –- 17 18 1
UCR 020 020 000 –- 4 11 1

LOB: UW 7, UCR 7. Joe DeMers, Alex Hardy (7) and Joey Morgan; Angel Landazuri, Max Compton (3), Devin Mckesson (8), Jason Montville (9) and Casey Worden, Tony Gudino (4). W – DeMers (1-0). L – Landazuri (1-1). Sv – Hardy (1). HR – Chris Baker (1). 3B – UCR, Drake Zarate. 2B – UW, Josh Cushing, Joey Morgan, MJ Hubbs, AJ Graffanino, Kyle London, John Naff, Blake Burton; UCR, Yeager Taylor. Time – 2:55. Attendance – 351.