Baker's Ninth Inning Heroics Push UW Closer To Pac-12 Title

Friday, May 27

Salt Lake City, UT

11:00 AM

University of Washington

32-19, 17-11

Utah

23-27, 17-11

Washington

Utah

Photo by: Washington Athletics

Baker's Ninth Inning Heroics Push UW Closer To Pac-12 Title

May 27, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

SALT LAKE CITY – The Huskies watched a 4-0 lead disappear, but junior third baseman Chris Baker saved the day as he tripled home the winning run in the ninth inning to give Washington a bounce-back 5-4 win over Utah. The win pushes Washington into a first-place tie atop the Pac-12 standings and closer to a conference championship.

Baker, the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week, took a pitch from Utah lefty Dylan Drachler (3-4) the opposite way that rattled around in the tricky right-field corner at Smith's Ballpark. His hit allowed Jack Meggs, who reached ahead of Baker on a one-out single, to race around from first to score the eventual game-winning run.

“After I fouled off a slider and pulled it, I knew he wasn't going to beat me with anything firm,” said Baker, “so I was just looking (to go) the other way and poke something over there.”

The Utes (23-27, 17-11 Pac-12) got the tying run on board in their half of the ninth on a DaShawn Keirsey Jr. single, but UW reliever Ryan Schmitten got speedy shortstop Cody Scaggari to hit into a nicely turned 4-6-3 double play to end the game and give the senior his second save in as many contests.

The win was the ninth-straight by Washington (32-19, 17-11) over Utah, dating back to the 2013 season, but more importantly it tied the two teams at the top of the Pac-12 standings. The Huskies now stand one win away from securing at least a share of their first Pac-12 Championship since 1998.

In the other dugout, Utah needs to win the next two games of the series to earn a share of the Pac-12 title and the automatic NCAA bid, or its season will be over after Sunday's regular season finale.

“We're trying to treat this like it a regular series,” said Husky Coach Lindsay Meggs. “But obviously it isn't.

“Every weekend we talk about this and say 'This is a 56-game playoff; that's what college baseball is.' So this is no different than any weekend we have had.”

The Huskies scored twice in the fourth and fifth innings to take the 4-0 lead, but as so often they have done this season, the Utes responded with three runs in the sixth and a run in the seventh to get right back into the game.

The Huskies threatened in the first and third innings before finally breaking through on the scoreboard in the fourth inning for a pair of runs. Joey Morgan started things off with a one-out solo home run off Utah starter Jayson Rose. The Huskies' sophomore catcher turned on a 3-1 waist-high fastball and hit it deep over the left-field fence for his fifth home run of the season.

KJ Brady followed Morgan's homer with a triple into the right-center gap and came around to score on a ground out to first by Levi Jordan.

An inning later, the Huskies were right back at it offensively, showing patience and clutch hitting to score two more runs. Kyle London started the inning with a single – he reached base in all four plate appearances – and was sacrificed into scoring position by Meggs. Baker made the strategy pay off by singling over the second baseman to drive home London for the first of his two RBI on the day.

The Huskies weren't done in the fifth, though, as they battled for three-consecutive bases on balls. The third one to Morgan scored Baker from third, giving Morgan his second RBI of the game and the Huskies a 4-0 lead.

Husky starter Noah Bremer cruised through five innings before hitting a rough patch in the sixth inning that ultimately ended his day. He gave up three singles to load the bases and with one out, Utah left fielder Andre Jackson found the gap in left-center that scored all three runners.

Jackson's hit not only brought Utah back to life, but it ended Bremer's day. The sophomore left with a 4-3 lead after allowing three runs on seven hits. He only walked one batter and struck out three in 5 1/3 innings.

Bremer ended up having nothing to show for his efforts after Utah tied the game in the seventh, scoring an unearned run off Alex Nesbitt. With two outs, Dallas Carroll singled home Kody Davis after an error kept the inning alive.

Nesbitt (6-2) settled down, escaping the jam in the seventh before pitching a perfect eighth inning. The senior from Mukilteo was credited with his team-leading sixth win of the season.

Offensively, the Huskies were outhit 10-8, but were able to come up with some clutch hits and take advantage of some walks. The top of the order – London (2 for 2, BB, HBP), Meggs (2 for 3, 2 sac bunts) and Baker (2 for 4, 3B, 2 RBI) combined for six of UW's eight hits.

The Huskies and Utes continue their three-game series Saturday at 11:00 a.m. PT. Washington sends freshman Joe DeMers (3-4, 6.21) to the hill against Utah senior Dalton Carroll (5-7, 5.14). The game will air on the Pac-12 Networks.

No. 15 Washington 5 (32-19, 17-11), Utah 4 (23-27, 17-11)

WASH 000 220 001 –- 5 8 1
UTAH 000 003 100 –- 4 10 0

LOB: UW 10, Utah 6. Noah Bremer, Greg Minier (6), Alex Nesbitt (7), Ryan Schmitten (9) and Joey Morgan; Jayson Rose, Dylan Drachler (9), Riley Ottesen (9) and AJ Young. W – Nesbitt (6-2). L – Drachler (3-4). SV – Schmitten (2). HR – UW, Joey Morgan (5). 3B – UW, KJ Brady, Chris Baker. 2B – Utah, Andre Jackson. Time – 3:27. Attendance – 1,990.