Huskies Win Unconventional Way, 4-2, To Sweep Utah

Sunday, May 12

Seattle, WA

12:00 PM

University of Washington

27-19, 0

Utah

12-31, 0

Utah

Washington

Braiden Ward celebrates with Ben Baird after throwing out the final out of the game.

May 12, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score VIDEO - Highlights and Recap VIDEO - Burgmann Interview

By: Brian Tom

SEATTLE – Braiden Ward threw out the potential tying run at second base to end the ninth inning and preserve a 4-2 win for Washington over Utah on Sunday at Husky Ballpark. The victory gave the Huskies (27-19, 12-12 Pac-12) a sweep of the Utes (12-31, 4-23) and moved their Conference record to .500.

The Huskies led 4-1 with the bases empty and two outs in the ninth inning, but the Utes would not go down quietly. Matt Richardson walked and Oliver Dunn singled to keep the game alive. When Erick Migueles drove a 2-2 pitch from Stevie Emanuels into the left-center gap to drive in a run, the outcome was quickly becoming dicey for the Huskies. But Migueles was too aggressive on the base paths and was thrown out by Ward trying to stretch his single into a double.

"It was a base-running mistake, but I understand the aggressiveness," said Husky Coach Lindsay Meggs. "It's something we work on all the time – keeping the tying run off of second base – and Braiden executed a really nice throw.

"It's not the typical way to end a game, but we'll take it."

The play might well have kept the Huskies' post-season hopes alive and pointed in the right direction. Like 2018, the Huskies are closing the season strong and are 10-2 over the last 12 games. They have a Monday tilt against New Mexico State at home before going on the road to face No. 1 UCLA and closing at home versus red-hot California.

For the second day in a row, Utah scored first, getting a run via a two-out RBI single off the bat of first baseman Shea Kramer. The lead was short-lived though as the Huskies answered with a pair of runs in their half of the second.

Joe Wainhouse tied the score with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and Michael Petrie followed him with an RBI single – his second go-ahead RBI in as many days.

Petrie, a catcher by trade, was making his fifth start in the outfield over the last two weeks. He's made the most of his opportunities and led the team with 6 runs batted in during the series.

"Michael Petrie is what's neat about college baseball," Meggs said. "He came here as a walk-on. We've asked him to play three of four different positions. He's done the best job he can at all of them."

The score remained at 2-1 when UW starter Josh Burgmann exited the game after 5 2/3 innings. He struck out nine Utes – the sixth time this season he's struck out nine or more – to up his Pac-12 leading total to 98 on the season. The junior righty is now tied with Austin Voth for eighth most in UW single-season history.

For Burgmann, he improved to 4-5 on the season and snapped a five-game skid. Meggs knows the Huskies will need the sophomore right-hander if they're going to make a post-season push.

"It was a great effort and performance by Burgy," Meggs said. "We need him to pitch well over the next two weeks and it looks like he's back down in the strike zone. He gave us a great chance to win today and we played just well enough to do it."

Washington added to its lead in the sixth, 3-1, on an RBI single off the bat of Nick Kahle. Ward reached on a one-out walk and promptly stole his Pac-12 leading 22^nd base. He would add his 23^rd later in the game. With a base open and two outs, Utah chose to pitch to Kahle and the Utes ultimately paid the price as the UW catcher drove in his team leading 48^th run of the season.

The Huskies packed on some insurance in the eighth on a Ward double that scored Nick Roberts to give UW a 4-1 lead.

Emanuels allowed the run in the ninth, but he does get credit for a two-inning save, his team-leading sixth of the season.

The Huskies will be right back in action on Monday as they host New Mexico State on Monday at 6:00 p.m.