Friday, March 2
Minneapolis, MN
1:00 PM
University of Washington
4
vs
3
Michigan State
Freshmen Lift Huskies To Extra-Innings Win Over Spartans
March 02, 2018 | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS βΒ Freshman Kaiser Weiss scored the game-tying run in the ninth inning and drove home the winning run in the 10th as Washington came out on top of a back-and-forth, 4-3, game against Michigan State in the Dairy Queen Baseball Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
"That's not easy to do," Husky Coach Lindsay Meggs said of his team's second win in extra innings away from home. "I know that we were at a neutral site, but we were still the visitors and we are on the road, so that in itself is something to build on."
Β
The Spartans (2-6) and Huskies (5-3) played seven innings of scoreless baseball before the floodgates opened for both teams, setting upΒ a wild finish.
Β
The Huskies broke the scoreless deadlock in the eighth inning using small ball to get to Spartans' reliever Mitchell Tyranski. KJ Brady and AJ Graffanino reached on infield hits to set up runners on the corners for designated hitter Joe Wainhouse. The senior hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Brady and gave the Huskies the 1-0 advantage.
Β
The lead seemed like it would be safe with Washington starting pitcher Joe DeMers, who threw a perfect game last time out against UC Riverside on Saturday, on the hill. But Michigan State responded with a pair of runs to take the lead.
Β
Zack Iverson, who doubled in the third inning to end DeMers' hitless streak at 11 2/3 innings, singled to start the eighth. He was sacrificed to second and came around to score on a Bryce Peterson single. It was the first earned run allowed by DeMers in 22 1/3 innings this season.
Β
Peterson would score later with two out when Justin Antoncic hit a tricky-hopper to Graffanino at shortstopΒ that he misplayed for an error and unearned run.
DeMers' final pitching line was outstanding, as the junior allowed one earned run on five hits. He had five strikeouts, did not walk a batter and will enter his next start with a paltry 0.59 ERA.
Β
The Huskies took DeMers off the hook for a potential loss as they scored twice in their half of the ninth to briefly re-take the lead. Freshman Braiden Ward doubled home Weiss, who doubled to lead off the inning, and KJ Brady hit a one-out sacrifice fly to make the score, 3-2, in UW's favor.
Β
Once again, Michigan State had an answer. Down to their final out, the Spartans' Dan Chmielewski hit a double off Alex Hardy (1-0) that scored Danny Gleaves, who led off the inning with a walk. With the tying run at second, Michigan State ran themselves out of the inning as Iverson was caught trying to steal second on a double steal.
Β
The defensive play gave the Huskies' offense the opening they would need in extra innings, and this time, the pitching staff shut the door on the Spartans.
Β
Jack Johnson, who pinch-ran for Wainhouse after a one-out single in the 10th, scored the go-ahead run when Weiss drove the first pitch he saw from Jake Lowery (0-2) to the wall in left-center field.
Β
Freshman Stevie Emanuels allowed two base runners in the Spartans' half of the 10th, but he struck out Antoncic and got pinch hitter Chad Roskelly to pop up on the infield for the final out of the game and his first career save.
Β
Washington outhit Michigan State, 13-7. Senior Levi Jordan was 3-for-4 and Weiss, Graffanino and Mason Cerrillo each had two hits.
Β
The Huskies will take on host Minnesota on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for approximately 5:00 p.m. PT.
Β
"That's not easy to do," Husky Coach Lindsay Meggs said of his team's second win in extra innings away from home. "I know that we were at a neutral site, but we were still the visitors and we are on the road, so that in itself is something to build on."
Β
The Spartans (2-6) and Huskies (5-3) played seven innings of scoreless baseball before the floodgates opened for both teams, setting upΒ a wild finish.
Β
The Huskies broke the scoreless deadlock in the eighth inning using small ball to get to Spartans' reliever Mitchell Tyranski. KJ Brady and AJ Graffanino reached on infield hits to set up runners on the corners for designated hitter Joe Wainhouse. The senior hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Brady and gave the Huskies the 1-0 advantage.
Β
The lead seemed like it would be safe with Washington starting pitcher Joe DeMers, who threw a perfect game last time out against UC Riverside on Saturday, on the hill. But Michigan State responded with a pair of runs to take the lead.
Β
Zack Iverson, who doubled in the third inning to end DeMers' hitless streak at 11 2/3 innings, singled to start the eighth. He was sacrificed to second and came around to score on a Bryce Peterson single. It was the first earned run allowed by DeMers in 22 1/3 innings this season.
Β
Peterson would score later with two out when Justin Antoncic hit a tricky-hopper to Graffanino at shortstopΒ that he misplayed for an error and unearned run.
DeMers' final pitching line was outstanding, as the junior allowed one earned run on five hits. He had five strikeouts, did not walk a batter and will enter his next start with a paltry 0.59 ERA.
Β
The Huskies took DeMers off the hook for a potential loss as they scored twice in their half of the ninth to briefly re-take the lead. Freshman Braiden Ward doubled home Weiss, who doubled to lead off the inning, and KJ Brady hit a one-out sacrifice fly to make the score, 3-2, in UW's favor.
Β
Once again, Michigan State had an answer. Down to their final out, the Spartans' Dan Chmielewski hit a double off Alex Hardy (1-0) that scored Danny Gleaves, who led off the inning with a walk. With the tying run at second, Michigan State ran themselves out of the inning as Iverson was caught trying to steal second on a double steal.
Β
The defensive play gave the Huskies' offense the opening they would need in extra innings, and this time, the pitching staff shut the door on the Spartans.
Β
Jack Johnson, who pinch-ran for Wainhouse after a one-out single in the 10th, scored the go-ahead run when Weiss drove the first pitch he saw from Jake Lowery (0-2) to the wall in left-center field.
Β
Freshman Stevie Emanuels allowed two base runners in the Spartans' half of the 10th, but he struck out Antoncic and got pinch hitter Chad Roskelly to pop up on the infield for the final out of the game and his first career save.
Β
Washington outhit Michigan State, 13-7. Senior Levi Jordan was 3-for-4 and Weiss, Graffanino and Mason Cerrillo each had two hits.
Β
The Huskies will take on host Minnesota on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for approximately 5:00 p.m. PT.
Β
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP/DH
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballAJ Guerrero breaks the UW home run record π
Friday, May 23
Business trip to Omaha πΌβΎοΈ #GoHuskies #baseball #pitcher
Wednesday, May 21
Washington 3, USC 1 | Huskies Highlights
Saturday, May 17
Washington 5, USC 3 | Huskies Highlights
Friday, May 16
