Pitching Dominates Again, UW Claims 2,000th Win In Program History

Saturday, February 22

Fresno, CA

2:05 PM

University of Washington

4-2

Fresno State

2-3

Washington

Fresno State

Pitching Dominates Again, UW Claims 2,000th Win In Program History

February 22, 2020 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Brian Tom

FRESNO, Calif. – Four Washington pitchers held Fresno State to two hits and struck out 10 batters in a 3-1 series-clinching victory on Saturday at Bob Bennett Stadium. The victory was not only the Huskies' fourth-straight, but it was the 2,000^th in program history.

Jack Enger (1-0) started the game and tied his career high in innings pitched (6) and set a new high in strikeouts (7). He did not walk a batter and held Fresno State to just one hit and one run.

"Jack got ahead of their guys and was able to put the ball where he wanted to with two strikes," Husky 11^th-year head coach Lindsay Meggs said. "He kept his pitch count down and was able to get six innings, which was great to see."

The junior from Bellevue turned the game over to the bullpen in the seventh inning with a 2-1 lead, and three UW relievers made the advantage count.

Gabe Smith (1 2/3 innings) and David Rhodes (2/3 innings) got the game into closer David Delorefice's hands and the junior slammed the door shut. He allowed a two-out triple in the ninth – just the second hit for the Bulldogs – but got Emilio Nogales to harmlessly fly out to end the game and pick up his third save in three opportunities.

"The the bullpen came in and threw strikes, didn't walk a batter," said Meggs. "That makes all the difference in the world."

The Huskies (4-2) take a 2-0 series advantage into Sunday's finale and have now won four-straight after dropping the first two games of the season.

The UW pitching staff has been especially outstanding since escaping Loyola Marymount with a ninth-inning, two-run rally for the first win of the season. Over the last three games, UW pitchers have struck out 37 while allowing one just one walk. They walked 23 hitters in 25 innings during the LMU series. UW has also held their opponent to just one run in three-consecutive games.

"You can definitely see their confidence growing," Meggs said of his pitching staff.

Fresno State (2-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Zach Presno doubled in the second inning and came around to score on back-to-back ground outs.

UW finally got on the board in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead that they would never relinquish. Bulldogs' starter Oscar Carvajal (0-1) suddenly lost his command and hit two batters and surrendered an infield single to Noah Hsue to load the bases with no outs. Carvajal forced in the tying run when he issued his third hit batter, plunking Christian Jones, and pinch-hitter Christian Dicochea hit a sacrifice fly to give the Dawgs the lead.

UW catcher Michael Petrie, who was 2-for-4 on the day, provided an insurance run in the eighth inning when he singled home Ramon Bramasco. With one out, Bramasco walked, stole second and moved to third on an errant throw before Petrie sent him home with his fourth RBI of the season.

The Huskies and Bulldogs continue the series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Logan Gerling will make the start and try to push the Huskies to the road sweep.