University of Washington
Michigan
Washington Takes On Michigan In Big Ten Matchup
April 23, 2026 | Baseball
All three games of the series will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus with live stats available at HuskyStats.com.
DAWG BITES
- Jackson Hotchkiss knocked Washington's 15th triple of the season against Portland, the eighth-most in the NCAA. Washington is averaging 0.38 triples per game, the most in the Big Ten.
- Jackson Hotchkiss launched his 13th home run of the season on Tuesday against Portland, setting a new career high. He currently ranks 47th in the NCAA in total home runs despite missing the first month of the season.
- Hotchkiss leads the team in batting average (.350), slugging percentage (.761), on base percentage (.419), home runs (12) and RBIs (32).
- Washington earned a neutral site victory on Tuesday, taking down Portland 8-1. Washington allowed just one run and two hits on the night, the least amount of hits given up by the Huskies all season long. It was the best defensive performance from the Huskies since a 6-0 shutout and four hits given up against Valpo on April 3.
- The Husky pitching staff has distinguished itself among the best in the nation. The Dawgs rank 44th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.40), 47th in walks allowed per nine innings (3.85), 58th in WHIP (1.42) and 71st in strikeouts per nine innings (9.2).
- Washington tied a season-high 17 strikeouts on Tuesday, the third time this season the Huskies have fanned 17 batters.
- Washington has thrived this season when getting the offense going early. The Huskies are 12-5 when scoring first and 10-5 when scoring in the first inning.
- The Huskies are 15-7 when scoring at least six runs.
- The Huskies were picked to finish eighth in the Big Ten conference by D1Baseball
SECOND SEASON UNDER SMITH
On July 9, 2024, Eddie Smith was named the 25th head coach of University of Washington baseball, announced by UW Director of Athletics Pat Chun. Smith, a native of Olympia, Washington, comes to Montlake after three seasons at Utah Valley. Smith begins his second season at the helm of the Huskies in 2026.
UP NEXT
The Huskies return to Big Ten play at Michigan this weekend, facing the Wolverines for a three-game series beginning on Friday. Washington will then take on Eastern Michigan on Tuesday before returning home.
NEUTRAL SITE VICTORY
The Huskies defeated Portland 8-1 on Tuesday in Ridgefield for UW's first neutral site win of the season. Jackson Hotchkiss had a three-hit night, including his 13th home run of the season and his first triple. The Washington pitching staff was dominant, allowing just one run and two hits, the least amount of hits allowed this season.
The Huskies had 15 total knocks while striking out the Pilots 17 times in the game. Blake Wilson also doubled his steal total on the season with four bags on the night.
DOWNED THE SPARTANS
Washington belted two home runs on the way to an 8-5 victory over Michigan State on Sunday afternoon. Washington struck first in the third inning, scoring five to jump in front. The Huskies led from then on.
Sam DeCarlo started the scoring with an RBI single in the third before a Blake Wilson sacrifice fly made it 2-0. Then Mic Paul laced his second career home run to make it 5-0. Paul's home run, a two-run shot, went 410 feet to deep right field and put the Huskies firmly in the driver's seat.
Taggart's home run was his second in as many days and was his third on the year. His home run went 417 feet to deep right field and restored a two-run advantage for the Huskies.
Tommy Brandenburg earned the save for Washington, his fourth of the season, by throwing 4.0 innings of scoreless ball. He allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out one batter during his outing. Hayden Lewis was credited with the win, going 5.0 innings with six hits, five runs, one walk, and three strikeouts.
DAWGS ON THE BIG SCREEN
Washington and UCLA will have all three of their games broadcast on Big Ten Network, the conference announced. The series, which will be Washington's final three home games of the season, are set to take place on Thursday, May 14, Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16.
With the move to linear television, the game times have also been adjusted. Both Thursday's and Friday's games will begin at 6 p.m. PT while Saturday's game will start at 12 p.m. PT.
LET KENNEY COOK
Noah Kenney has set career-high marks over the last few weeks, most recently setting a new career-high for innings pitched against Michigan State. The junior threw into the ninth frame on Friday, finishing with 8.1 innings under his belt just two weeks after setting a career-high mark of 7.0 innings.
During week eight of the season,Kenney was named to the Baseball America National Team of the Week. He diced up Valparaiso, leading the Huskies to a 6-0 shutout win with a career-high 14 strikeouts. It's the second award recognition of the season for the Parker, Colo. native after he was named to the College Baseball Foundation's Pitcher of the Year watch list.
Kenney has had a strong campaign so far which has garnered him the national attention. He's collected four wins in his nine starts and has the most innings pitched (58.2) and strikeouts (67) of any Husky. The right-hander has 10 appearances and nine starts this year, pitching more than four innings each time he's taken the mound. Among his starts, he's thrown at least five innings in each, including five frames of hitless ball in a win against LMU and seven innings and 14 strikeouts against Valpo.
HOTCHKISS ON A HEATER
Jackson Hotchkiss has started the season on an absolute tear. After missing the month of February due to injury, he's made 28 starts in March and April and been the best offensive output for Washington. He's tallied a .350 batting average while scoring 33 runs on 41 hits. He has the most home runs on the team (13) and is fourth in doubles (7) while pacing the Huskies in slugging percentage (.761) and on base percentage (.419). His home run total ranks 47th in the NCAA.
SWISS ARMY BRANDENBURG
As both a starter and a reliever, Tommy Brandenburg has been strong option for the Huskies on the bump this season. Brandenburg currently leads the team with four saves and in ERA at 2.12. He's also claimed two wins on the season and leads the team in total appearances at 16, 14 of which have been in relief, also leading the team.
His four saves this year rank 82nd in the NCAA and seventh in the Big Ten.
CERTIFIED BAG GETTERS
Washington has stolen 61 bags this season, the third-most in the Big Ten. Most recently, Blake Wilson recorded a four-steal game against Portland to bring his season total up to eight. Sam DeCarlo has chipped in nine steals while Mic Paul leads the team, going a perfect 11-11. Washington's opponents have stolen only 35 times and have been thrown out on 14 attempts.
B1G-TIME BOWER
Colton Bower has been one of the best offense drivers for the Huskies as of late. He claimed his first Big Ten Player of the Week award (March 9) after a massive week at the plate.
Since the beginning of March, the catcher leads the team in batting average (.422), slugging percentage (.891), and on base percentage (.493), is second on the team in total hits (27), extra base hits (14) and home runs (7).
Bower ranks 37th in the NCAA and third in the Big Ten in slugging percentage (.712) and 60th in the NCAA and eighth in the conference in home runs per game (0.33).
HUSKY HURLERS
The Husky pitching staff has distinguished itself among the best in the nation. The Dawgs rank 44th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.40), 47th in walks allowed per nine innings (3.85), 58th in WHIP (1.42) and 71st in strikeouts per nine innings (9.2).
Washington tied a season-high 17 strikeouts on Tuesday, the third time this season the Huskies have fanned 17 batters.
17 strikeouts is the most the Huskies have had in a single game since April 9, 2021 (20 Ks vs. ASU).
TRIPLE THREAT
The Huskies have knocked 15 triples this season, the most in the Big Ten and the eighth-most in the NCAA. Braeden Terry and Blake Wilson lead the way with three, Sam DeCarlo, Mic Paul, and Colton Bower each have two while Casen Taggart, Landon Young and Jackson Hotchkiss each have one. The Huskies are averaging .38 triples per game, the eighth-most in the nation.
Blake Wilson and Braeden Terry both rank 51st in the NCAA in total triples.
HOME RUN HUSKIES
Washington has brought the boom this season to the tune of 46 homers, the 11th-most in the Big Ten and the 91st-most in the NCAA. Jackson Hotchkiss leads the way with 13, Colton Bower has 10, Daniel Porras has six, and Sam DeCarlo has five.
DAWG DEBUTS
18 Diamond Dawgs made their first career appearance so far this season. Position player debuts included Ian Draper, Ty Cowan, Aidan Dougherty, Drew Johnson, Mic Paul, Alexander Pearson, Daniel Porras, Kevin Spear, Ethan Swidler, and Landon Young. Pitching debuts include Carson Boesel, Bryce Johnson, Noah Kenney, Hayden Lewis, Liam Lierman, Jay Miller, Jack Wade, and Tyler Walker.
BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
Despite Washington's rise from 17th place in last season's poll to a fifth place finish, the Huskies have been left out of this season's Big Ten Preseason Poll. This year, the conference announced the voted top-six finishing programs.
1. UCLA
2. Oregon
3. USC
4. Nebraska
5. Indiana
6. Iowa
