Bloebaum Strikes Out 10 for UW, But UTRGV Avoids Four-Game Sweep

SEATTLE – UT Rio Grande Valley scored twice late against Washington to break open a pitcher's duel and avoid a four-game series sweep at Husky Ballpark on Monday. The Vaqueros (3-4) scored a run in the eighth, added an insurance run in the ninth inning and held on for dear life in the ninth to keep intact a 2-0 shutout win.
 
Husky left-hander Adam Bloebaum was brilliant over six innings of work in his first collegiate start. The Raleigh, N.C., native struck out 10 batters, including eight of the first nine outs he recorded. He allowed two singles and did not walk a batter, while throwing 62 pitches – 47 of which were strikes.
 

"I thought he was great," head coach Lindsay Meggs said. "He threw strikes, worked quickly, put the ball in play, did exactly what we wanted him to do."

 
Unfortunately for Bloebaum, his counterpart was equally on his game. UTRGV starter JC Ariza allowed a single to Noah Hsue with one out in the first inning, but that was it. The right-hander struck out eight, walked one and faced one over the minimum in six innings of work.
 
Ultimately, neither starter factored in the final decision.
 
Ariza's replacement, Colten Davis (1-0), picked up where he left off, and threw two perfect innings to pick up the win, and in the end benefited from the Vaqueros' bats coming alive late in the game.  
 
UTRGV pinch-hitter RJ Ochoa broke a scoreless tie in the top of the eighth inning delivering a RBI double down the left-field line that scored Christian Sepulveda from second. The run was the first off the Huskies' bullpen in 12 1/3 innings.
 
UTRGV tacked on an insurance run in the ninth on a RBI single off the bat of Andy Atwood.
 
The Huskies made things interesting in the ninth inning off closer Deryk Serbantez when pinch-hitter Preston Viltz reached on a one-out single – the second hit of the game for UW. Braiden Ward followed with a grounder back to the mound, but Serbantez airmailed his throw to second into centerfield, setting up the Huskies with runners at first and third.
 
Ward promptly stole second to put two runners in scoring position with one out, but Hsue grounded out to third and Christian Jones rolled out to first base to end the game.
 
Dylan Lamb (0-1) was the first of four relievers over the final three innings and took the loss.
Husky Notes

• Braiden Ward and Noah Hsue have reached base in every game this season. 
• Ward stole his 7th base of the season and leads the Pac-12
• Adam Bloebaum's 10 strikeouts were the most since Stevie Emanuels struck out 13 against Fresno State on March 21 of last season.

 
Washington returns to action on Friday, March 5 at home against Loyola Marymount. The teams will play a doubleheader, with game one starting at 1:00 p.m. and then play single games on Saturday and Sunday.