Huskies Walk Their Way To An 8-7 Win Over UCLA

Saturday, April 16

Seattle, WA

1:00 PM

University of Washington

18-12, 0

UCLA

15-17, 0

UCLA

Washington

Photo by: Washington Athletics

April 17, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

SEATTLE – Washington scored three runs in the seventh inning to complete a rally from a 6-1 deficit and beat UCLA, 8-7, on Saturday at Husky Ballpark and tie up the three-game series at a game apiece.

Sophomore KJ Brady walked with the bases loaded – the third bases-loaded free pass issued by losing pitcher Tucker Forbes (1-1) in the inning – to force in the go-ahead run and break a 7-7 tie in the seventh. It was the second three-run inning of the game for the Huskies, to counter a six-run third inning for the Bruins.

Washington (18-12, 8-6 Pac-12) had four relief pitchers combine to allow just one run over the final 6 1/3 innings, allowing the Huskies to chip away at the Bruins (15-17, 6-8), who had leads of 6-1 and 7-4.

“Today was an all-around team win,” said Troy Rallings, who pitched the final two innings to notch his eighth save of the season. “It took every single one of us to get the win. When you get down like that, the most important thing is to be tough and we never gave in or gave up.”

Rallings allowed just one base runner on a hit by pitch and struck out two UCLA batters to pick up his 23^rd career save and preserve the win for Spencer Jones (2-2), who pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Rallings is now tied with Will Fenton for the second most saves in Huskies' history.

Washington manufactured its first run of the game – and the series – in the second with some head's up running from junior MJ Hubbs to take a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Hubbs was hit by a pitch and Levi Jordan followed with a single to right field that advanced Hubbs to third. The next hitter AJ Graffanino was up and had a 2-2 count when Jordan took off from first before the pitch from UCLA starter Grant Dyer was delivered. Dyer threw to second and when Jordan froze, Hubbs stole home, scoring easily ahead of the throw to the plate.

The lead was short-lived though, as UCLA sent 11 batters to the plate in the third and scored six times to take a 6-1 advantage. UW starter Joe DeMers was unable to get out of the inning as he hit three batters, walked two more and gave up two hits. The two hits were huge, as both were bases-loaded doubles. Luke Persico's double scored two runs and Trent Chatterton cleared the bases with his double.

DeMers was charged with all six runs in the inning. He allowed four hits, walked two, hit three batters and struck out four in his abbreviated start.

The Huskies began the process of crawling back into the game in the bottom of the inning as catcher Joey Morgan launched a three-run home run over the left-field wall to cut UCLA's lead to 6-4. The sophomore turned on the first pitch he saw, a high fastball from UCLA starter Grant Dyer, and lifted it into the Bruins' bullpen for his third home run this season.

UCLA tacked on another run in the fourth on a RBI single by Persico – his third hit and RBI of the game – but Washington had a response in the bottom half of the inning. Jack Meggs walked with one out and the bases loaded to make the score 7-5. The Huskies looked poised for a big inning but UCLA reliever Scott Burke got an infield fly and strikeout to squelch hopes of a rally in the inning.

The ultimate rally had to wait until the seventh inning when the Huskies took advantage of five bases on balls and scored three times to take the lead. The Huskies sent nine batters to the plate in the inning and had only one hit. Three UW batters drew walks with the bases loaded – Hubbs, Chris Baker and Brady – to give the Huskies the 8-7 advantage.

Washington had only seven hits on the day by seven different batters, but the Huskies were issued 10 walks – four coming with the bases loaded.

The rubber match of the series is tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The Huskies will be trying for their first series victory since 2005.

Washington 8 (18-12, 8-6), UCLA 7 (15-17, 6-8)

UCLA 006 100 000 –- 7 8 0
WASH 013 100 30x –- 8 7 1

LOB: UCLA 13, UW 9. Grant Dyer, Hunter Virant (4), Scott Burke (4), Nathan Hadley (6), Tucker Forbes (7), Jake Bird (7) and Jake Hirabayashi; Joe DeMers, Ryan Schmitten (3), Greg Minier (4), Spencer Jones (7) and Joey Morgan. W – Jones (2-2). L – Forbes (1-1). SV – Rallings (8). HR – UW, Joey Morgan (3). 3B – none. 2B – UCLA, Luke Persico, Trent Chatterton; UW, AJ Graffanino. Time – 3:47. Attendance – 1,249.