UW’s Late-Inning Rally Falls Short In 6-5 Loss To Gaels

Sunday, February 26

Moraga, Calif.

1:00 PM

University of Washington

4-3

Saint Mary's (California)

4-2

Washington

St. Mary's

UW’s Late-Inning Rally Falls Short In 6-5 Loss To Gaels

February 26, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score Box: St. Mary's 6, UW 5

By: Brian Tom

MORAGA, Calif. – The 10^th-ranked Huskies (4-3) rallied for five runs late, but St. Mary's (4-2) led from start to finish after scoring in four of the first five innings to beat the Huskies, 6-5, and earn a split of a four-game series at Louis Guisto Field in Moraga, Calif.

The Gaels jumped ahead of UW freshman starter Jordan Jones (1-1) in the first inning, but the newcomer from Kentwood High School in Kent, Wash., was able to minimize the damage to just one run. He loaded the bases with less than two outs, but only allowed a lone run to cross the plate on a groundout before striking out St. Mary's right fielder Eddie Haus to end the threat.

Jones wasn't as fortunate in the third inning, as St. Mary's was able to score a pair of runs after there were two outs. A double, walk and back-to-back RBI singles by Haus and Joe Vranesh made the score 3-0.

The Gaels tacked on another run in the fourth on a squeeze play. It was the last run allowed by Jones in his four innings of work. A week after dominating Santa Clara with nine strikeouts, no walks and allowing one run in six innings, Jones struggled to find the same command against St. Mary's. He allowed four earned runs, walked three and struck out two.

Catcher Jackson Thoreson greeted Huskies' reliever Josh Burgmann with a solo home run to start the fifth and make the score 5-0. The freshman pitcher Burgmann recorded five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of relief for the Huskies. He allowed two runs – one earned – on four hits and two walks.

The lead proved to be enough for St. Mary's starter Drew Strotman (2-0). The right-hander was excellent on the hill for the Gaels, allowing three hits, four walks, struck out seven and left the game leading 5-0 after six strong innings.

The Huskies finally jumped on the scoreboard in the seventh with three runs off of reliever Jake Valdez. KJ Brady tripled home a pair of runners and Joey Morgan followed with a RBI single to make the score 5-3. But, Kevin Milam came into the game and got John Naff to ground into a 1-6-3 double play to end the threat.

The Gaels answered back with an unearned run in the eighth to increase the lead back to three runs, 6-3, but UW countered with two unearned runs of its own in the eighth to make it a one-run ballgame.

With Jack Meggs on third and two outs, Levi Jordan hit a grounder to shortstop that should have been the final out of the inning, but first baseman Austin Chauvin dropped the throw allowing Meggs to score and Jordan to reach safely. Pinch-hitter Gage Matuszak followed with a single to keep the inning alive and AJ Graffanino singled home Jordan to make the score 6-5. But, a groundout got Milam out of trouble and the freshman shut the Huskies down in order in the ninth to preserve the 6-5 lead and earn his second save of the season.

Washington recorded nine hits after notching double-digit hits in each of the first three games. Graffanino, Morgan and Meggs had two hits each to lead the UW offense.

The Huskies return to Seattle for their first home stand of the season, a four-game series against Sacramento State, Thursday through Sunday. Game one of the series is scheduled for a 6:05 p.m. first pitch at Husky Ballpark.