UW Rides Naff's Pair Of Homers, Ballowe's Arm To 8-4 Win

Saturday, March 19

Seattle, WA

2:00 PM

University of Washington

10-5, 0

Arizona

12-6, 0

Arizona

Washington

Photo by: Washington Athletics

UW Rides Naff's Pair Of Homers, Ballowe's Arm To 8-4 Win

March 20, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

SEATTLE – John Naff homered twice, including a go-ahead three-run shot in the fifth inning, as Washington rallied for an 8-4 win in game two of a best-of-three Pac-12 series against Arizona at Husky Ballpark Saturday.

The Huskies (10-5, 2-0 Pac-12) scored five runs – four of which came with two outs – in the decisive fifth inning to ensure themselves of a series win over the visiting Wildcats (12-6, 0-2). UW has now won six of its last seven games, while Arizona has dropped two-straight after winning seven-consecutive games.

The Huskies have also won 10 of their last 12 games over the Wildcats.

Arizona had a 3-1 lead before the Husky bats erupted in the game-changing fifth inning. AJ Graffanino singled with one out – the second of a career-high three hits in the game for the freshman shortstop – to start the rally. He came around to score when the next batter Alex Galgano tripled off the wall in right-center field.

With two-outs, MJ Hubbs delivered a clutch RBI single scoring Galgano and tying up the game 3-3. After a Josh Cushing single, Naff delivered the first of his two homers, a three-run shot over the 395-foot mark on the wall in center field. His first career homer as a Husky – the 11^th for the team this season – gave Washington a 6-3 lead they would never relinquish.

Senior reliever Will Ballowe made sure that the Huskies kept the advantage once they got it. The lefty entered the game in the fifth inning with two runners on and the Huskies trailing 3-1, but Ballowe (1-0) got out of the inning and went on to retire all but two hitters he faced in 2 2/3 innings of work. He picked up his first win of the season, giving up just one hit and one walk, while striking out five Wildcats' hitters.

“He was the difference today,” said Husky coach Lindsay Meggs of Ballowe. “The game was in the balance and he came in and really carved them up pretty good. Our guys love Will and I think it gave us a big boost that not only he put up zeroes, but it was him doing it.”

Arizona drew first blood in the game, scoring an unearned run in the second inning off Husky starter Joe DeMers. Designated hitter JJ Matijevic reached on a fielding error by second baseman Chris Baker and one out later came all the way around from first to score on a double by left fielder Alfonso Rivas.

The Wildcats got their second and third runs of the day on a pair of solo home runs by first baseman Ryan Aguilar. Aguilar took a 2-0 pitch from DeMers deep over the right field fence for his second homer of the year in the third and added another one, this time to the opposite field over the left-field fence, in the fifth.

The second home run by Aguilar was the last hit DeMers would allow as he was pulled in the fifth inning with two outs and two on. He ended up giving up six hits, three runs – two earned – allowing three walks and striking out four in 4 2/3 innings.

Trailing 2-0, Washington got its first run in the third on a RBI single by Hubbs. Graffanino, who reached on a one-out single, came around to score the first of his three runs on a two-out RBI hit that continued a streak of reaching base safely in all 15 games for Hubbs.

The run off Arizona starter and eventual losing pitcher Nathan Bannister (3-1) snapped a streak of 22-straight scoreless inning by the senior right-hander, but it would not be the only time the Huskies would touch up Bannister.

After the five-run fifth, Washington added runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to extend its lead to 8-3. Graffanino scored on a two-out RBI single by Jack Meggs in the sixth, and an inning later Naff went the opposite way to left-center field for a lead-off homer, this one coming off reliever Matt Hartman.

Arizona got a run back in the ninth off Alex Nesbitt, but Troy Rallings slammed the door shut retiring three-straight Wildcats to give the Huskies the 8-4 win.

Graffanino reached base all four times he came to bat, going 3 for 3 with 3 runs. Hubbs (2 for 3, 2 RBI), Cushing (2 for 4) and Naff (2 for 4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) each had a pair of hits.

The Huskies outhit Arizona 12-9.

Washington will go for the sweep Sunday, 1 p.m. at Husky Ballpark. It's family day at the ballpark with a family of four getting into the game for $20.

Washington 8 (10-5, 2-0), Arizona 4 (12-6, 0-2)

ARIZ 011 010 001 –- 4 9 0
WASH 001 051 10x –- 8 12 1

LOB: AZ 8, UW 6. Nathan Bannister, Rio Gomez (6), Matt Hartman (6) and Cesar Salazar, Ryan Haug (8); Joe DeMers, Will Ballowe (5), Alex Nesbitt (8), Troy Rallings (9) and Joey Morgan. W – Ballowe (1-0). L – Bannister (3-1). Sv – none. HR – AZ, Ryan Aguilar 2 (3); UW, John Naff 2 (2). 3B – AZ, Jared Oliva; UW, Alex Galgano. 2B – AZ, Alfonso Rivas 2; UW, Josh Cushing. Time – 3:04. Attendance – 750.