Huskies Rally In The Ninth For 4-3 Win

Sunday, February 16

Los Angeles, CA

1:00 PM

University of Washington

1-2

Loyola Marymount

2-1

Washington

LMU

February 16, 2020 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Brian Tom

LOS ANGELES – Ramon Bramasco had the go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning and a game-saving catch for the last out to propel Washington to a 4-3 rally over Loyola Marymount and help the Huskies salvage the final game of the series Sunday at Page Field.

Washington (1-2) entered the ninth trailing 3-2 and had went hitless since the second inning before pinch-hitters Noah Hsue and Nick Roberts reached on singles to put runners on the corners with no outs. Pinch-hitter Rollie Nichols tied up the game when he hit a grounder to shortstop Mathew Piotrowski, who threw the ball away at second base allowing all the runners to be safe and Hsue to score.

Pinch-runner Cole Miller advanced all the way to third on the misplay and came around to score two batters later when Bramasco laid down a perfect bunt. LMU pitcher, CJ Fernandezees (0-1), tried to get Miller at the plate, but the speedy freshman avoided the tag and gave UW the decisive 4-3 advantage.

Junior Davis Delorefice came in from right field to hammer the door shut in the bottom of the ninth and earn his first save. It was not without tense moments though, as he allowed a lead-off single before eventually wiggling out of a tight spot. With two outs and runners at the corners, Bramasco scrambled into short left field and made a diving catch of a Matt Voelker pop up to end the game.

Junior transfer Gabe Smith (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth inning to earn the win. Smith was the second of three Husky relievers who combined to allow just one run over eight innings.

Jack Enger, who entered the game with no outs in the second, went a career-high six innings, allowing four hits and striking out six LMU batters.

For a second-consecutive day, the Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. After a Chrisitan Dicochea walk and Dalton Chandler double – his first career hit – Bramasco laid down a squeeze bunt to give UW a 1-0 lead. Michael Petrie followed with a run-scoring double.

The lead was short-lived as after a lead-off walk, Piotrowski deposited a 2-0 pitch from Husky starter Jack DeCooman over the wall in left-center field for a two-run homer.

The Lions would take the lead, 3-2, an inning later on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Dennis off Enger. Little did anyone know at the time, it would be the final run until the Huskies' furious ninth-inning rally.

The Huskies will remain in Southern California and face Long Beach State Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. before heading north to Fresno State for a three-game weekend series.