Rallings Slams Door Shut As UW Beats UO, 7-4

Saturday, March 26

Seattle, WA

3:00 PM

University of Washington

12-7, 0

Oregon

11-9, 0

Oregon

Washington

Photo by: Washington Athletics

March 27, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

SEATTLE – Third baseman Josh Cushing broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run double to carry the offense and pitcher Troy Rallings was nearly untouchable on the mound over the final three innings to lead Washington to a 7-4 victory over Oregon Saturday at Husky Ballpark.

Cushing's bases-loaded, bases-clearing double in the fifth inning proved to be the game winner as Washington (12-7, 4-2 Pac-12) took two-out-of-three games from Oregon (11-9, 2-4). The Huskies are now in a five-way tie for first place in the Pac-12.

The lead was enough for Rallings to navigate the final three innings to pick up his fifth save of the season – the 20^th of his career – and make a winner out of Greg Minier (2-0) for the second time in the series.

Rallings is just the third Husky pitcher to reach 20 saves in his career and is three behind second-place Will Fenton (23). The senior from Carlsbad, Calif. has yet to allow a run in 20 1/3 innings this season and has not been scored on in 17 straight-appearances, dating back to last season.

Washington was forced to rally in the game after Oregon jumped out to the early lead on back-to-back home runs in the second inning. UW starter Spencer Jones retired the first five hitters he faced before Steven Packard and Jakob Goldfarb hit solo shots to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead.

But, the Huskies responded back in the bottom of the second to tie things up. After Duncan Hendrickson and Joey Morgan singled to start the inning, Chris Baker moved both runners into scoring positon with a sacrifice bunt. The strategy paid dividends as designated hitter Alex Galgano sent both runners home with a RBI single to left field.

The score remained 2-2 until the fifth when Cushing cleared the bases to run his season RBI total to a team-best 21. Cushing neatly placed a 1-0 pitch from Ducks' reliever Parker Kelly into the left-field corner allowing Levi Jordan, Kyle London and MJ Hubbs to all score.

In the top of the sixth Oregon answered back with a two spot to cut the Huskies lead to one, 5-4. Packard hit a two-run, two-out double into the left-center gap to pick up his second and third RBI of the game.

Washington went back up by a two run margin when Oregon reliever Jack Karraker balked in Morgan from third base to give UW the 6-4 lead.

That's when the Huskies' coaches rolled the dice and brought in Rallings to finish out the game. He struck out four and allowed just one hit over the final three innings.

The Huskies added an unearned run to the board in the seventh inning when Morgan hit a grounder to third base that Matt Kroon misplayed, allowing Jack Meggs to score.

Washington outhit Oregon, 7-5, with all seven hits being credited to different players.

Next up for the Huskies is a two-game, non-conference series Monday and Tuesday at Husky Ballpark against cross-state rival Gonzaga. All general admission tickets for Monday's 5:00 p.m. start are $5.

Washington 7 (12-7, 4-1), Oregon 4 (11-9, 2-4)

ORE 020 002 000 –- 4 5 1
WASH 020 031 100 –- 7 7 0

LOB: UO 4, UW 6. Kyle Robeniol, Parker Kelly (5), Jack Karraker (6), Brac Warren (7) and Tim Susana; Spencer Jones, Greg Minier (4), Alex Nesbitt (6), Troy Rallings (7) and Joey Morgan. W – Minier (2-0). L – Robeniol (1-2). SV – Rallings (5). HR – UO, Steven Packard (2), Jakob Goldfarb (1). 3B – none. 2B – UO, Jake Bennett; UW, Levi Jordan, Josh Cushing, Jack Meggs. Time – 3:05. Attendance – 919.