Huskies Score Three Times In The Ninth To Rally For 5-4 Win

Tuesday, March 21

Spokane, Wash.

6:00 PM

University of Washington

13-6

Gonzaga

10-10

Washington

Gonzaga

Huskies Score Three Times In The Ninth To Rally For 5-4 Win

March 21, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score Box: UW 5, Gonzaga 4

By: Brian Tom

SPOKANE, Wash. – The 23^rd-ranked Huskies (13-6) rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead over Gonzaga Tuesday night at Patterson Baseball Complex in Spokane, Wash. to take the first game of a two-game series and win their fifth game in a row.

The teams endured a one-hour, 48-minute rain delay before the top of the fourth inning adding to the intrigue of the night.

The first two runners reached for the Huskies in the ninth on singles setting into motion a wild inning. AJ Graffanino and Levi Jordan singled off of Sam Hellinger (2-2) and Kyle London sacrificed them both into scoring position. Jack Meggs followed with a double into the gap that scored both runners and tied the game at 4-4.

It was the final hit of Meggs' 3-for-4 night in which he tied a career-high with three RBIs.

With two out, senior first baseman John Naff doubled the opposite way off the left-field wall to complete the rally and give the Huskies their first lead of the game, 5-4.

Greg Minier got the first out of the ninth inning and Alex Hardy came in and recorded the final two outs to pick up his first save of the season.

Freshman lefty Brendan Ecklebarger (1-0) threw the 1 2/3 innings in his college debut to pick up the first win of his career.

Gonzaga (10-10) struck first in the opening inning, stringing together three-straight hits off UW freshman starter Chris Micheles. Second baseman Justin Jacobs doubled home Jeff Bohling, but Micheles got a strikeout and fly out to end the threat.

Sunday's hero for the Huskies, Willie MacIver, continued his torrid play and tied things up in the second inning with a RBI double. Naff walked to start the inning and remained there until UW's sophomore third baseman stepped up with two outs and doubled off the wall in right field. Naff was able to truck home all the way from first and slide safely across the plate just before the relay from the outfield reached the catcher.

Gonzaga re-took the lead in the third inning on a Jacobs sacrifice fly before the rain overwhelmed the field.

Shortly after 9:00 p.m., play resumed and the Huskies went quietly in their half of the inning before Bulldogs' catcher Jake Roberts woke up everyone with a long homer to left field off new Huskies' pitcher Leo Nierenberg to make the score 3-1.

The Huskies mounted a two-out rally to cut into the lead in the seventh. Jordan doubled – part of a 3-for-4 night – and pinch-hitter Kyle London was hit by a pitch to set the table for Meggs. The senior served the first pitch he saw into center for a RBI single to cut the lead to 3-2.

But the Bulldogs had an answer in the bottom of the seventh to go back up two runs. Sam Brown singled off of Ecklebarger to send Gunnar Schubert home and make the score 4-2.

Like they have done so many times this season, the Huskies did not roll over and quit. They mounted their second rally this season in their final at bat of the game to win for the ninth time in 11 games.

The two teams will meet again Wednesday in Spokane with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. SWX will carry the action live on TV and it will be streamed live online.