Huskies Shutout Hornets, 4-0, To Win 3 Of 4 In Series

Sunday, March 5

Seattle, Wash.

12:05 PM

University of Washington

7-4

Sacramento State

7-4

Sac State

Washington

March 05, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score Box: UW 4, Sac State 0

By: Brian Tom

SEATTLE – Four Washington pitchers combined to shutout visiting Sacramento State, 4-0, on three hits Sunday at Husky Ballpark to give the 11^th-ranked Huskies (7-4) a series win over the Hornets (7-4).

Sacramento State held UW to one hit in a 7-1 win in the series opener, but from there, the Huskies fought back and showed their toughness in less than ideal conditions over the next two days along the shores of Lake Washington.

"We struggled in game one and our guys knew how disappointed we were as a staff and the way we approached that game," Husky Coach Lindsay Meggs said. "We really challenged them after that and it was nice to see them comeback.

"Any time you have a three-game winning streak after a tough loss, you have to feel pretty good about that. I'm just proud of the way we kind of answered the bell."

After sweeping a double-header on Saturday, Washington turned to freshman lefty Chris Micheles on the hill to clinch the series. The Puyallup, Wash. native was more than up to the task.

In just his second college start, Micheles (1-0) was outstanding over five shutout-innings to pick up his first career win. He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out three. He only allowed one runner to reach as far as second – a one-out double by Andrew McWilliam in the fourth. Micheles stranded him there and left with a 1-0 lead.

The Huskies got on the board in the third inning when Kyle London reached via a bunt base hit. He stole second – his fourth stolen base of the series – and eventually came around to score on a triple by MJ Hubbs off Hornets pitcher Ryan Smith (0-1).

With Micheles out of the game, Washington extended its advantage to two runs in the sixth by pushing an unearned run across the plate. Joey Morgan and Willie MacIver each reached via infield singles. With Jack Meggs up to bat, the runners advanced on a passed ball and on the very next pitch, Ty Fox – one of eight Sacramento State pitchers on the day – uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Morgan to run home and make the score 2-0.

The Huskies added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning with a two-out rally. John Naff singled and MacIver followed with a double down the left-field line for his third hit of the day. Meggs drove both runners home with a single to centerfield that gave the Huskies some extra breathing room.

Greg Minier worked a perfect sixth and seventh inning and Joe Wainhouse allowed a hit in the eighth before the game was turned over to freshman Josh Burgmann in the ninth. Burgmann allowed a lead-off walk, but with one out he coaxed a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The Huskies return to action this week against Meggs' former squad, Indiana State, at Husky Ballpark. The teams will play a four-game series, starting Friday, March 10 through Sunday. Saturday is scheduled to be a double-header.