UW’s Rally Comes Up Short To No. 7 OSU

Saturday, March 30

Seattle, WA

2:00 PM

University of Washington

14-8, 0

Oregon State

18-5-1, 0

Oregon State

Washington

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

March 30, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Brian Tom

SEATTLE – Connor Blair hit a three-run home run in sixth inning to bring the Huskies back from a 6-3 deficit, but No. 7 Oregon State scored four runs in the seventh inning to break open a tie game and deny Washington any chance at a big comeback Saturday in front of 2,161 fans at Husky Ballpark.

Beavers' catcher, Adley Rutschman, the consensus No. 1 pick in the upcoming Major League Draft, hit a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double with two outs that ultimately gave Oregon State (18-5-1, 5-3) the cushion they would need to win the game, 10-7, and clinch the series.

The Huskies (14-8, 5-3) fell behind as much as five runs before tying the score, but ultimately could not repel a final OSU offensive onslaught.

The Beavers came out of the gates extremely aggressive, with Beau Philip doubling off the centerfield fence on the first pitch of the game from Jordan Jones. It was a sign of things to come and the start of a very productive inning for the visiting team as they would bat around in the opening inning.

Tyler Malone got the scoring started with an RBI double and Matthew Gretler followed with a run-scoring single. First baseman Ryan Ober capped the scoring off with a three-run homer over the centerfield fence for a 5-0 lead before the Huskies even picked up a bat.

Oregon State would load the bases again in the second, but Jones' fate was much better this time around. He got a fly out to short right field and a liner to third to escape without any damage. It proved to be key as Jones would settle down and keep his team in the ballgame, gritting out 4 2/3 innings before being lifted after a two-out single in the fifth inning.

Meanwhile, the Huskies began chipping away at the lead in the third, scoring a couple of runs. Joe Wainhouse scored the first run when OSU starter Bryce Fehmel misplayed a spinning ground ball back to the mound for an error and the Huskies tacked on a second run on a sacrifice fly by RBI leader, Nick Kahle.

The Huskies cut the lead to 5-3 in the fourth when Nick Roberts' two-out single scored Rollie Nichols from second, seemingly giving the Huskies the momentum.

OSU got the run back in the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Philip, the last of six earned runs charged to Jones, but the three-run lead would be short lived.

Blair wiped away all the frustrations of the early deficit with one swing of the bat, connecting on the first pitch from reliever Mitchell Verburg for a three-run blast. Mason Cerrillo, who singled off Fehmel to start the inning, and Ramon Bramasco, who walked, scored on Blair's team-leading sixth home run – a no-doubt shot that flew over the scoreboard behind the Beavers' bullpen beyond the left field wall.

The Beavers re-took the lead in the seventh when back-to-back sacrifice bunt attempts became base hits when they were placed perfectly against the Huskies' waiting defense. Chris Micheles (2-1) had to attack Rutschman with the bases full and two outs in the seventh and left a 3-2 pitch on the inside of the plate that he was able to yank into the left-field corner.

The Huskies tried to rally one final time in the ninth, scoring a run on a Kahle ground out, but Jake Mullholland got pinch-hitter Albert Hsiao to ground out to end the game.

Despite giving up the lead, Verburg (1-0) earned the win for the Beavers.

Wainhouse and Nick Roberts each picked up a pair of hist to lead the UW offense.

The Huskies will send Josh Burgmann to the hill Sunday at 2:00 p.m. to try and salvage the series for the Diamond Dawgs.