Huskies Can’t Overcome Early Deficit, Fall 7-3 To Bears

Saturday, April 29

Seattle, Wash.

2:05 PM

University of Washington

23-17, 0

California

20-20, 0

California

Washington

Huskies Can’t Overcome Early Deficit, Fall 7-3 To Bears

April 29, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score Box: Cal 7, UW 3

By: Brian Tom

SEATTLE – Visiting California scored twice in the first inning and led from start to finish as they beat Washington, 7-3, at Husky Ballpark Saturday afternoon to even the three-game series at a game apiece.

Washington (22-17, 9-8 Pac-12) answered back with a run in the first, but Cal (20-20, 12-8) busted the game open with four more runs in the fifth and cruised from there.

California took advantage of Husky freshman pitcher Jordan Jones (4-5) as he tried to find his footing in the first inning. After an infield single and pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs, designated hitter Jonah Davis jumped on a 3-1 pitch and doubled off the wall in right field to score a pair of runs and give Cal a 2-0 lead before its starter Joey Matulovich took the hill.

The Huskies were able to get a run back in their half of the first with a two-out rally. MJ Hubbs started things off with a single, which extended his streak of reaching base safely to 33-straight games, including a 15-game hit streak. After Joey Morgan walked to move Hubbs up a base, the senior right fielder stole second and came home when catcher Korey Lee's throw got past Denis Karas at third base.

Hubbs' run proved to be the Huskies' lone highlight early going and Cal scored four times in the fifth to extend its lead to 6-1. Karas hit a double with the bases loaded to score two runs and one out later, Davis hit his second two-run double of the game.

The Huskies were poised to chip into the Bears lead in their half of the fifth, loading the bases, but they were able to only push one run across the plate on a wild pitch, to make it 6-2.

Levi Jordan scored from third when reliever Erik Martinez threw a pitch in the dirt, but Martinez got Willie MacIver to foul out for the final out of the inning. Martinez (3-2) ended up throwing the final 4 2/3 innings to pick up the win for the Bears.

Preston Grand Pre singled home another run for Cal in the sixth, the last run allowed by Jones. It was a tough outing for Jones, as he was charged with a career-high seven earned runs on seven hits, but the freshman did strikeout six batters – the second most in his short UW career.

Washington relievers Alex Hardy (3 innings) and Chris Micheles (1 inning) combined to throw four shutout innings out of the bullpen.

John Naff singled home Joey Morgan in the eighth inning to make the score 7-3, but that is the closest the Huskies would get down the stretch.

The offense managed six hits with AJ Graffanino collecting a team-high two.

The Huskies and Bears play the rubber match of the series Sunday at Husky Ballpark. The finale is scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.