University of Washington Athletics

Hi Corbett Field (9,500), Tucson, Ariz.
Fri., April 5: 7:00 p.m.
Sat., April 6: 3:00 p.m.
Sun., April 7: 1:00 p.m.
TV: Pac-12 Network (JB Long and Andy Lopez)

SEATTLE - The streaky Washington Huskies (14-9, 5-4 Pac-12) head to the desert hoping that the start of April is kinder to them than the end of March.

They will take on the Arizona Wildcats (13-14, 2-7) in search of a way to snap their current four-game losing streak. Prior to the current stretch, the Huskies had won six of seven and had a seven-game win streak earlier in the season.

This weekend's series will be carried by the Pac-12 Network and its streaming platforms. JB Long and Andy Lopez will call all the action from Hi Corbett Field. Links to live stats and video links can be found online at GoHuskies.com // Sports // Baseball // Schedule. Constant updates are also available via Twitter and Instagram: @UW_Baseball.

SERIES HISTORY VS. ARIZONA
Arizona holds the all-time series lead over Washington, 33-30, but the Huskies have been working hard recently to cut into that advantage. UW is 13-6 over the last 19 games. The Huskies swept the Wildcats in their Pac-12 home opening series in 2018, twice winning in walk-off fashion. UW won Friday night 7-1, before needing nine innings to earn a 1-0 victory on Saturday and 3-2 on Sunday. It was fitting revenge for 2017 the last time the two teams met in Tucson when Arizona swept the Dawgs, walking them off twice. Under Lindsay Meggs, the Huskies are 10-5 at home, 4-8 on the road vs. the Wildcats. The two teams first met in 1999 where the Huskies won the first two matchups of the all-time series. 

NOTEWORTHY
• Lots And Lots Of Kahle Is Good: Junior Nick Kahle, who recently was named to the Buster Posey Catcher of the Year watch list, is not only one of the best catchers in the Pac-12, but the country. Here are just several of the reasons why:
– Over the last five games, UW has scored 17 runs. Kahle has driven in 61 percent of those runs with 11 RBI.
– Hit team-high .414 in March with an on-base pct of .556. Collected 18 RBI in 17 games.
– Has started 84 straight games - 80 at catcher, the most demanding position on the field. He has also made two starts in left field and two at designated hitter. He is on the Buster Posey Catcher of the Year watch list.
– Leads team & ranks 4th in Pac-12 with a .416 average. Other Pac-12 ranks: 3rd (8th nationally) on-base pct (.547), T-5th RBI (29), T-4th walks (29), 6th slugging pct (.623). In Pac-12 play, leads conference with .516 avg and .628 on-base pct.
– Has walked 24 times while striking out just 9 times.
– Thrown out 7 of 9 base runners attempting to steal, including all four attempts by OSU last weekend. His rate of throwing out runners (77.8%) is best among Pac-12 starting catchers. 
– Caught 536 out of a possible 553 innings (96.9%) behind the plate in 2018.

• Canuck Combo: Two of UW's weekend starters hail from Canada – freshman David Rhodes (White Rock, B.C.) and redshirt-sophomore Josh Burgmann (Nanaimo, B.C.) – and they have been outstanding in their respective Friday night and Sunday spots in the rotation. Both boast sub-2.00 earned run averages and have long streaks of quality starts going (Rhodes is at four-straight games, Burgmann six-straight). Burgmann leads the Pac-12 with 59 strikeout and Rhodes' 1.75 ERA is  the lowest among all Pac-12 freshmen pitchers, 7th lowest in the nation.

• Stout Defense: The Huskies have committed 16 errors, tied for third fewest nationally, and lead the conference and are 6th nationally with a .981 fielding percentage. They are also the toughest team to steal against in the Pac-12 with runners succeeding just 5 out of 14 attempts (35.7%). 

• Smart Dawgs: On the heels of a 3.28 grade point average during the recently completed winter quarter, for the first time in UW history, the overall GPA of the baseball team has reached 3.20. In all, 12 players made the UW Dean's List (3.5 or higher), led by a 3.87 by junior communications major Ben Baird. 

• Pays To Steal: The Huskies are 25-of-28 in stolen base attempts (89% success) this season, conversely, opponents are 5-for-14 (35.7% success) in stolen bases against the Huskies.