Chandler, Rhodes Power UW to Victory over Seattle U

SEATTLE -- The Washington Huskies (6-6) opened their series over Seattle U (5-6) with a balanced team victory on Thursday night at Husky Ballpark. 

UW came roaring out of the gates in the first inning and gave itself enough of a cushion for the remainder of the night.

Leading off was Braiden Ward, who hit a towering ground-rule double into the right field corner to extend his on-base streak to all 12 games this season. On the very next pitch, Noah Hsue ripped a double into the right-center field gap and the Huskies took a quick 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Will Simpson singled into left field to bring home Hsue and give UW a 2-0 lead. 

Dalton Chandler would deliver the big blow of the inning, launching his first-career home run into left-center field, a three-run shot. The five-run first inning was the highest-scoring inning of the year for UW and helped set up starter Logan Gerling.

Gerling worked four complete innings, giving up just one run on four hits for the night and lowering his season ERA to 3.00. 

Colton Charnholm came in for the fifth and worked a scoreless inning to put himself in position for the win. The Redhawks cut into the lead with a two-run home run in the sixth to make it a 5-3 game, which was just the first home run surrendered by the Huskies pitching staff this season.

After the home run, Gabe Smith came in to get the last two outs of the inning. He made way for Stu Flesland III, who tossed a scoreless seventh and got the first out of the eighth. 

David Rhodes took over from there and got the last five outs of the game to earn the save, the first of his career. 

UW added two insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings on errors to extend the lead to 7-3.

Washington and Seattle U continue their series tomorrow night at Husky Ballpark, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m..
Husky Notes

• With his leadoff double, Braiden Ward has now reached base in all 12 games this season. 
• Ward has also scored a first-inning run in five of UW's nine home games this season.
• With Stu Flesland III's scoreless 1.1 innings tonight, the bullpen trio of Flesland III, Davis Delorefice and Stefan Raeth have now thrown a combined 21.1 scoreless innings this season.