Washington Comeback Falls Short Against UC Irvine

The Washington baseball team (0-2) fought back from a 5-0 deficit in the eighth inning, but couldn't push across the tying run and fell to UC Irvine (2-0) for the second straight day on Sunday afternoon. 

The Anteaters struck first once again, pushing across 2 runs in the third inning on a deep double to center field and a single. 

Besides that inning, Logan Gerling kept UC Irvine in check for much of the afternoon. He went 5.0 innings and surrendered two runs, while striking out five and walking none. Despite his workmanlike effort, the Huskies were unable to produce run support for Gerling, as Peter Van Loon of the Anteaters threw 6.0 scoreless innings.

UC Irvine added on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a suicide squeeze play executed to perfection. In the seventh, the Anteaters pushed across 2 more runs on a two-out single up the middle to make it a 5-0 lead. 

UW would not go away easy, though, as the Huskies loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth. Michael Petrie worked a leadoff walk while Braiden Ward and Noah Hsue each took one for the team and were hit by pitches.

A Ramon Bramasco groundout plated Petrie and Will Simpson followed up with a sac fly to center field. Christian Jones delivered with a hard-hit double into right-center field that brought home Hsue. With Jones on second, Dalton Chandler grounded a ball to shortstop and a wide throw to first base scored Jones. 

After Davis Delorefice ripped a leadoff single in the top of the ninth, the Huskies were unable to get him home and lost by a final score of 5-4.

UW and UC Irvine play the final game of their three-game series on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. PT.
Husky Notes

• Braiden Ward stole a base for the second straight game, which was the 57th steal of his career. He sits in sole possession of fifth-place all-time in Washington history. His next stolen base will tie Matt Wimmer for fourth-place all-time. 
• Stu Flesland III sat down both batters he faced today and has now retired all six hitters he has faced this season. 
• Case Matter, Colton Charnholm and Stefan Raeth all made their Husky debuts this season. Matter is the first true freshman to pitch for UW this season
• Dalton Chandler made his first career start at third base.
• Davis Delorefice made his first career start in center field.