Schmitten Carves Up USC In Series-Clinching Win

Sunday, May 8

Los Angeles, CA

1:00 PM

University of Washington

27-16, 13-8

USC

21-24, 10-11

Washington

USC

Photo by: Washington Athletics

May 08, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

LOS ANGELES – Senior pitcher Ryan Schmitten allowed just one hit over seven innings and the pitching staff faced just one USC batter over the minimum as the Huskies dominated the Trojans in a 6-0 series-clinching, one-hit shutout win on Mother's Day at Dedeaux Field.

No. 21 Washington (27-16, 13-8 Pac-12) took two of three games over USC (21-24, 10-11) to maintain its footing atop the Conference standings. The Huskies improved to 11-1-1 in series this season and remain a perfect 7-0 in three-game rubber matches.

They have also won 8 of the last 9 games against USC on the road.

"To drop the Friday game and come back and win the next two proves that we are pretty resilient," Husky Coach Lindsay Meggs said to sum up his team's weekend and season.

Schmitten (1-2) could be the Huskies' poster boy for resilience. He battled through injuries just to make it to the Division I level and has spent the last two seasons bouncing in between the bullpen and starting rotation.

The Puyallup, Wash. native did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the sixth inning – a double by No. 9 hitter Reggie Southall. The only baserunner Schmitten allowed before Southall's hit was a lead-off walk in the fourth to Cody Dempster – who was retired on a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play to end the inning.

He went to three-ball counts just three times and struck out four in picking up his first win of the season. Schmitten's 7-inning effort was his longest outing in nine career starts – four of which have come this season.

"Obviously, Schmitten's performance was off the charts," said Meggs. "SC is as good offensively as any team we've seen all year, and Ryan just cut them to pieces. It was a great day for him and a great weekend for us."

With the Huskies safely ahead 6-0 after seven, the game was turned over to the bullpen. Lance Berringer allowed two hitters to reach in two-thirds of an inning on a hit by pitch and walk, but both runners were wiped off the board via a double play and pick-off.

Will Ballowe was credited with the final four outs of the game, completing the combined one-hit, shutout effort.

"Our bullpen was lights out all weekend and we just kept going at them offensively," said Meggs.

While the pitching was excellent, the offense did its part to chip in early, jumping ahead of USC and starting pitcher Mitch Hart (0-3) in the first inning. KJ Brady led off the game with a single and was moved over to second by the Pac-12 leader in sacrifice bunts Jack Meggs. No. 3 hitter Chris Baker paid off the small-ball move by driving home Brady with a single to center field for his team-leading 27^th RBI and a 1-0 lead.

The first inning set the offensive tone for the day as the Huskies came ready to play. They scored in three consecutive innings starting with the fourth to build on their lead.

The Huskies' big inning was the fourth, when they scored three times after there were two outs to balloon their lead to 4-0. With two runners on, Levi Jordan hit a RBI, ground-rule double, scoring John Naff, who reached via a one-out walk. Freshman AJ Graffanino followed with a clutch two-run single through the hole on the right side of the infield to plate Josh Cushing and Jordan. The two RBI gave Graffanino 10 for the season, making him the ninth Husky to reach double-digits.

In the fifth, the Huskies scored an unearned run to take a 5-0 lead. Meggs reached on a double and Baker followed with a ground ball to shortstop. USC's Southall got to the ball, but he sailed his throw wide of first base, allowing Baker to reach second and Meggs to score on the error.

The Huskies made the score 6-0 in the sixth when Meggs scored Brady from second on a two-out, opposite-way single. Brady slid just under the tag of catcher Jeremy Martinez for his second run of the game and what turned out to be the final run of the game.

The Huskies' offense showed patience at the plate, drawing six walks, and pounded out nine hits on the day. Naff (2 for 3, 2 BB), who reached base four times, and Meggs (2 for 4, RBI) were the only Huskies with multiple hits on the afternoon.

The Huskies return home this upcoming week and host cross-state rival Washington State for three games starting Friday, May 13.

Washington 6 (27-16, 13-8), USC 0 (21-24, 10-11)

UW 100 311 000 –- 6 9 0
USC 000 000 000 –- 0 1 1

LOB: UW 9, USC 1. Ryan Schmitten, Lance Berringer (8), Will Ballowe (8) and Joey Morgan; Mitch Hart, Bernardo Flores (3), Jeff Paschke (5), Marc Huberman (7) and Jeremy Martinez. W – Schmitten (1-2). L – Hart (0-3). SV – none. HR – none. 3B – none. 2B – UW, Levi Jordan, Jack Meggs; USC, Reggie Southall. Time – 2:53. Attendance – 601.