SEATTLE – Washington scored three runs in the sixth to take the lead and closer Troy Rallings pitched the final three innings to pick up his school record-tying 31st career save as the Huskies rallied to beat Washington State, 6-4, and salvage the final game of the series Sunday at Husky Ballpark.
Catcher Joey Morgan hit a two-run homer to tie the game and second baseman Levi Jordan hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning.
With the lead in hand, the Huskies handed the ball over to their unconventional senior closer. Rallings did not allow a hit or run over the final three innings to pick up his Pac-12 leading 16th save of the season. The only batters to reach against Rallings – who lowered his national leading ERA to 0.59 – got on base via a catcher's interference and hit by pitch.
Fifteen of Rallings' saves have been longer than one inning and today was his seventh save that was seven or more outs. He now shares the UW school record for saves with Brett Merrick, who recorded 31 saves from 1993-95.
“To break a record, it justifies everything,” said Rallings, who was drafted in the 36th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. “I came back for this – not for my own records – but to just have a season like this and have the opportunity to be one of the best pitchers in the country and do whatever I can to help my team to win and keep us in the playoffs.
“More than anything, that's what this means. I can sit here and look and see how many games I've clinched for us and how many chances I've gave for us to play in the post-season, and that's what it's really about – to be as good as we possibly can.”
Greg Minier (5-0) allowed an unearned run and one hit in 2 1/3 innings of relief to pick up his fifth win of the season.
The Huskies (28-18, 14-10 Pac-12) had dropped the first two games of the series against the last-place Cougars (17-29, 10-17) and needed a win to stay within striking distance of first place in the Pac-12. Things didn't start off well for the Huskies, though, as they let the Cougars jump ahead of them before they even took their first swings of the game.
A week after Husky starter Ryan Schmitten carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, he was greeted rudely by the Washington State hitters, allowing three hits and three runs in the first inning.
Lead-off batter Justin Harrer singled on the second pitch of the game and No. 2 hitter Shane Matheny doubled him home after a 12-pitch battle. Patrick McGrath followed with a double of his own to make the score 2-0. He eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by catcher Stefan Van Horn.
The Huskies got two runs back in the third, scoring a pair of runs on a Jack Meggs double. MJ Hubbs, who led off the inning with a single, and Levi Jordan, who walked in front of Meggs, both scored when the Husky junior center fielder ripped a 1-0 pitch off the wall in right field.
WSU extended its lead back to two runs in the fifth pushing an unearned run across the plate against Minier. McGrath singled and JJ Hancock reached on catcher's interference to start the inning. With one out, McGrath scored on a ground out by Van Horn – his second RBI of the game – to make the score 4-2.
The Huskies finally broke through in the sixth to take the lead. After Duncan Hendrickson reached on a fielding error by WSU shortstop Harrer to start the inning, the sophomore Morgan connected on a 1-1 pitch by Scotty Sunitsch and deposited it into the Cougars' bullpen for his fourth home of the season.
Washington's rally continued against eventual losing pitcher Colby Nealy (1-3). Hubbs walked, KJ Brady singled and AJ Graffanino was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jordan pushed the go-ahead run across the plate with a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Huskies their first late lead during the series.
Kyle London produced an insurance run in the eighth on his own accord. The eighth inning defensive replacement in right field reached on a two-out double, swiped third and came around to score when the catcher Ty Johnson's throw sailed into left field.
Rallings hit Harrer with two outs in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate, but he struck out Matheny to end the game and give the Huskies the win.
Washington outhit Washington State 8-5 with Meggs (2 for 4, 2 RBI) picking up a pair of hits for the Huskies.
The Huskies have a quick turnaround and will host Northern Colorado tomorrow at Husky Ballpark. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m.
No. 14 Washington 6 (28-18, 14-10), Washington State 4 (17-29, 10-17)
WSU 300 010 000 –- 4 5 2
UW 002 003 01x –- 6 8 3
LOB: WSU 7, UW 6. Scotty Sunitsch, Colby Nealy (6), Chandler Greenfield (7), Trenton Dupre (8) and Stefan Van Horn, Ty Johnson (8); Ryan Schmitten, Greg Minier (4), Troy Rallings (7) and Joey Morgan. W – Minier (5-0). L – Nealy (1-3). SV – Rallings (16). HR – UW, Joey Morgan (4). 3B – none. 2B – WSU, Shane Matheny, Patrick McGrath; UW, Jack Meggs, Kyle London. Time – 3:03. Attendance – 1590.
