Lots Of Heroes In Huskies 7-6 Series-Clinching Win Over Sun Devils

Sunday, May 6

Phoenix, AZ

12:30 PM

University of Washington

23-20, 0

Arizona State

19-27, 0

Washington

Arizona State

Lots Of Heroes In Huskies 7-6 Series-Clinching Win Over Sun Devils

May 06, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Brian Tom

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Washington jumped out to a 5-0 lead but had to hold on Sunday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, escaping the desert with a 7-6 win and a 2-1 series victory over Arizona State.

Every Husky starter had a hit, but they needed a two-run homer from Joe Wainhouse in the ninth inning and crafty pitching from their savvy senior Alex Hardy to secure their third-straight series win over Arizona State (19-27, 11-13 Pac-12).

"They're really tough at home," Husky Coach Lindsay Meggs said of ASU following his team's fifth Pac-12 series victory in seven tries. "For us to do what we did, with some of the issues we have in terms of the guys that are banged up and playing in 105-degree weather, I'm proud of our guys. This is a great win at a place that's tough to win."

For the third time in the series, the Huskies (23-20, 13-8) struck first, this time scoring twice in the second inning. With two on, No. 8 hitter Kaiser Weiss doubled just off the glove of a diving Hunter Jump in right-center field that scored Levi Jordan. Nick Roberts followed with a run-scoring fielder's choice for the sophomore second baseman's second RBI of the year.

UW played add-on in the third against Arizona State starter Eli Lingos (6-5), scoring a couple of runs to make the score 4-0. Jordan doubled home Nick Kahle, who singled to start the frame, and Jonathan Schiffer plated Joe Wainhouse, who reached safely when left fielder Taylor Lane dropped a ball for one of two ASU errors in the inning, on a ground out.

Roberts, making just his third start of the season, helped the Huskies to a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning. He doubled – Roberts' first career extra-base hit – to start the frame and eventually came around to score when Braiden Ward singled up the middle through a drawn-in infield.

Meanwhile, Jordan Jones (5-3) was cruising for the Huskies on the hill until he ran into trouble in the seventh inning. He got the first two outs before he allowed a single to No. 8 hitter Alika Williams and walked No. 9 hitter Luke Leisenring to bring up the nation's premier power-hitting freshman, Spencer Torkelson.

Torkelson promptly singled – one of three hits on the day for him – allowing Williams to score and ending Jones day. After Gage Canning greeted new pitcher Stevie Emanuels with a three-run homer, closing the gap to 5-4, Jones' pitching line took a hit: three earned runs over 6 2/3 innings. He did limit ASU's potent offense to seven hits and just one walk, while striking out six batters and was able to earn the victory.

"Jordan was great," Meggs said. "In fact, I probably should have left him in the game. That's my mistake. That's a bad match up for Stevie, but we thought that Jordan was out of gas.

"But Jordan gave us everything he had. He changed speeds and is a great example of somebody that knows how to pitch. That's the kind of guy that can give them fits because ASU is such a fastball-dominant hitting team."

Arizona State clearly had momentum in the late innings, but the Huskies stole it back in the top of the ninth. Wainhouse connected for a two-run, opposite field home run off of Dellan Raish that gave his team a 7-4 advantage. It was the eighth home run of the year – second of the series – for the Huskies' senior designated hitter.

Alex Hardy, who entered the game to get the final out in ASU's four-run seventh, allowed the first two Sun Devils to reach in the ninth on back-to-back singles. Both runners would eventually come around to score on a single and sacrifice fly, but with the tying run on first, Hardy struck out Carter Aldrete to end the game and earn his fourth save of the season.

Washington outhits Arizona State, 13-12, with multi-hit games from Jordan (3-for-5), Willie MacIver (2-for-5) and Mason Cerrillo (2-for-4).

The Huskies reward for beating the Sun Devils: Coach Meggs allowed his team to wear shorts on the plane for the first time in his 30 years of managing.

The Huskies return home next week to host UCLA in a three-game series. Saturday at Husky Ballpark will be Craft Beer Night and Sunday will be a celebration of Mother's Day, including a Mother's Day brunch.