Huskies Drop Opener Against Gaels, 5-3

Friday, April 22

Seattle, WA

5:00 PM

University of Washington

19-14

Saint Mary's

22-12

St. Mary's

Washington

Photo by: Washington Athletics

April 23, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

SEATTLE – MJ Hubbs connected for his fourth home run of the season, but the Huskies (19-14) couldn't overcome a 5-0 deficit to St. Mary's and lost 5-3 Friday night at Husky Ballpark in the opening game of a four-game series.

In a game billed as a pitching duel between two of the nation's premier starters, things got off to an inauspicious start for both aces. But, both were able to show their grit, escaping early jams.

Husky starter Noah Bremer (4-3) found himself in a first inning jam allowing three St. Mary's (22-12) batters to reach on a single, double and walk to load the bases with one out. Bremer buckled down, though, striking out catcher Nate Nolan and getting Edward Haus to ground out to second to end the inning.

In the Huskies half of the second, Corbin Burnes – a Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List member – got into a no outs, bases loaded jam. Chris Baker doubled, Hubbs walked and Gage Matuszak reached on a bunt base hit to start the inning. Burnes pulled a Houdini and got Levi Jordan to pop out to first base in foul territory and got AJ Graffanino to roll into a 1-2-3 inning-ending double play.

Bremer couldn't escape trouble in the third inning though. After Joey Fiske singled and stole second, Anthony Villa singled to left field to put runners on the corners. Nolan hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give St. Mary's a 1-0 lead. The Gaels would go on to load the bases, but Bremer got a strikeout to end the inning.

The Gaels struck again in the fourth for a pair of runs to extend their lead to 3-0. Zach Kirtley reached on an error and Fiske doubled for his third hit of the game to set the stage for Villa. Villa singled – also his third hit of the game – to score both runners.

Bremer settled down after the fourth, but his pitch count was up to 114 after six innings, effectively ending his day. The sophomore from Berkeley, Calif. gave up seven hits and allowed three runs – two earned – and was tagged with his second-consecutive loss and third overall this season. Bremer didn't have his usual pinpoint command and walked a career-high four batters, but he also struck out five.

The Gaels scored two more runs in the seventh off reliever Alex Nesbitt – both on a double by Jackson Thoreson to take a 5-0 lead – before Washington finally got on the board. With one out in the seventh, Hubbs hammered a 1-1 pitch from Burnes over the wall in left field and into the St. Mary's bullpen for a solo home run.

The Huskies drew within two runs in the eighth scoring two runs and chasing Burnes from the game. Pinch-hitter Rex Stephan walked to lead off the inning and end Burnes day. Alex Galgano – also a pinch hitter – doubled home Stephan to make the score 5-2. He eventually came around to score on a pinch-hit single by Duncan Hendrickson that made the score 5-3.

The Huskies threatened in the ninth, putting two runners on base, but Drew Strotman got Nyles Nygaard to ground out with runners on the corners to end the ball game.

Burnes went seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits to improve to 6-0 on the season.

The Huskies were outhit 9-8 by the Gaels. Baker (2 for 4, 2B) had two of UW's hits, while Husky pinch-hitters went 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs.

The Huskies and Gaels continue the series Saturday at Husky Ballpark with a double header. The first game is scheduled for a noon first pitch – different from the originally scheduled start.

St. Mary's 5 (22-12), Washington 3 (19-14)

SMC 001 200 200 –- 5 9 0
UW 000 000 120 –- 3 8 2

LOB: SMC 10, UW 6. Noah Bremer, Alex Nesbitt (7), Spencer Jones (9) and Joey Morgan; Corbin Burnes, Ty Madrigal (8), Drew Strotman (8) and Nate Nolan. W – Burnes (6-0). L – Bremer (4-3). SV – Strotman (1). HR – UW, MJ Hubbs (4). 3B – none. 2B – SMC, Anthony Villa, Nate Nolan, Joey Fiske, Jackson Thoreson; UW, Chris Baker, Alex Galgano. Time – 3:03. Attendance – 507.