SEATTLE – Washington hit three home runs to back six shutout innings from its starter, David Rhodes, as the Huskies topped USC, 7-1, Friday afternoon at Husky Ballpark. The win improved the Huskies to 12-5 on the season and 3-1 in Pac-12 play, while USC fell to 8-12, 2-2.
 
The Huskies' three home runs all came in the first five innings to give their freshman hurler a comfortable lead to work with. Rhodes set down the first 15 Trojans he faced in order, before allowing a lead-off infield single to designated hitter Emilio Rosas to start the sixth inning. He would strand Rosas at third and leave with a 5-0 lead after six complete innings. He threw 71 pitches and improved to 4-1 on the season.
 
Rhodes benefitted from a trio of homers from the Dawgs big boppers. Joe Wainhouse blasted a solo home run in the second, Connor Blair launched a two-run shot in the fourth and Nick Kahle hit a solo shot an inning later.
 
Wainhouse's homer was an opposite field shot off Connor Lunn (4-1) for the UW senior's fifth shot of the season. Blair, who led California junior college's in home runs in 2018, also blasted his fifth homer of the season. Kahle's homer was a high, towering shot that rode the wind out to left-center field for his third long ball of the year.
 
The Dawgs also scored using small ball. They added an unearned run in the fourth when Nick Roberts dropped down a suicide squeeze on a 1-2 pitch to score Ramon Bramasco, who reached earlier on one of two errors by USC in the inning. Kaiser Weiss capped the scoring in the eighth with a two-run single.
 
USC mustered its only run in the seventh inning off Husky reliever Chris Micheles. They capitalized on a back-to-back singles to start the inning and scored when Ben Ramirez grounded into a fielder's choice. It was the high point of the day for the Trojans' offense as three UW pitchers held them to four hits overall.
 
Stevie Emanuels recorded the final four outs of the game to slam the door shut on the Trojans.
 
Washington's bats accounted for eight hits on the day with Kahle (2 for 3) and Wainhouse (2 for 4) each accounting for a pair.
 
The Huskies will send Jordan Jones (2-2, 3.13) to the hill for game two of the series, Saturday at 2:00 p.m.