Engman Throws Six Scoreless As Dawgs Down Cardinal 4-3
SEATTLE - The Huskies (17-22, 7-15) had their work cut out for them as sixth-ranked Stanford (24-13, 11-8) joined them on the field for the start of a three game series Friday night at Husky Ballpark. Righty Jared Engman got the start on the mound facing off against Alex Williams whose 2.21 ERA placed him second in the conference. Knowing he had to deliver near perfection, Engman faced the challenge putting up a string of Stanford zeroes over six innings of work. The Dawgs landed an early lead in the second on a Michael Snyder RBI single up the middle, but knew they would need more. Those runs finally came in the eighth as McKay Barney sent a hard, two-out ground ball past a diving first baseman scoring runners from second and third. Barney later crossed the plate on a passed ball to make it a 4-1 ballgame. Stanford would not go quietly though and added two more in the top half of the ninth. Runners on first and third were left stranded as out number three was delivered with a fly ball to center field.
TOP OF 1
Stanford led off the game jumping on the first pitch from starter Jared Engman for a single through the right side. A balk advanced the runner to second. With a runner in scoring position and no outs, a ground out to Michael Snyder at third brought the game's first out and a fly ball to Mckay Barney in center was out number two. A 3-0 count to the cleanup hitter was concerning, but he watched a strike and swung over the top of the next two to end the top half of the first.
BOTTOM OF 1
Following a leadoff strikeout, Cam Clayton drew a walk, but a pair of pop outs followed to send things to the second.
TOP OF 2
The leadoff batter ripped a shot at first base, but Will Simpson made a fabulous play to scoop it up for the unassisted out. Next came a hit down the left field line for a double. Once again, Engman battled with a runner in scoring position and a pair of swinging strike threes followed.
BOTTOM OF 2
With one out, Colby Morales worked a full count and then fouled off six pitches before hitting a single to the second baseman playing in shallow right field. Left fielder AJ Guerrero followed with a walk. With Morales in scoring position, Michael Snyder delivered a 3-1 pitch right back up the middle to score the game's first run. Josh Urps ripped a line drive over second to load up the bases, but a strikeout and fly out to center followed to end the inning with the Dawgs up 1-0.
TOP OF 3
A single up the middle started the third. Engman was able to sit the next batter down swinging on three pitches. The runner on first stole second on the first pitch to the next batter to put a runner in scoring position. That batter went down looking at strike three and a high chopper to Clayton at short sent things to the bottom half.
BOTTOM OF 3
A pair of outfield fly outs and a one hopper to second base had the Huskies going down in order in the third.
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Engman continued to deal in the fourth sitting the first batter down looking at a nasty breaking ball. The next batter made solid contact, but a one-hopper to Josh Urps at second delivered out number two. Another line drive one-hopper, this time to Snyder at third, ended the inning.
BOTTOM OF 4
Coby Morales jumped on the first pitch smoking a line drive to left to start things off. AJ Guerrero followed with a deep fly ball to center, but it was caught for out number one. Snyder followed with a ball deep in the hole to the shortstop's right, but he was able to corral it and fire to second for the out on Morales. Josh Urps followed putting a charge into one, but the left fielder was able to retreat in time to catch out number three.
TOP OF 5
A lead off blooper into shallow right put one aboard for the Cardinal. A sacrifice bunt to Snyder at third brought the first out on the throw over to first, but the runner advanced to second. A hard hit ball to Clayton at short excited the baserunner who elected to advance, but Clayton made easy work of him throwing the short way over to third for out number two. The next batter swung over strike three to keep Stanford scoreless.
BOTTOM OF 5
Barney led off with a beautiful bunt down the first base line. The pitcher fired to first, but it bounced out of the first baseman's glove and Barney was safe at first on the error. Clayton tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but ultimately went down on strikes. Next, Johnny Tincher hit a chopper to the pitcher. He was out at first, but Barney advanced into scoring position. Simpson was then sent to first with an intentional base on balls, but a strikeout closed the door on the fifth.
TOP OF 6
Snyder fielded a high chopper at third and fired over to first for out number one. The second batter put a charge into one to left center, but Barney was able to race over for the catch. Next, a line drive to the fence in right center put a runner on second with two down, but a grounder to Clayton at short ended the threat.
BOTTOM OF 6
Stanford pitching remained strong as a ground out and strikeout began the sixth. Snyder remained hot though, with his second hit of the ballgame back up the middle. Another strikeout however ended the inning.
TOP OF 7
Stanford led off the seventh with a line drive down the left field line past a diving Michael Snyder for a stand up double. Engman exited the game to a big round of applause as righty Stefan Raeth took the mound. Raeth's first batter went down swinging. The second batter jumped on the first pitch sending a can of corn to Cole Miller in left who entered to start the inning. With two out the next batter sent a chopper to Urps at second who fired over to Simpson for out number three.
BOTTOM OF 7
Stanford made their first pitching change to start the inning. Barney led things off with a high chopper to short. The throw was late and wide and Barney was in easy with a base hit. Clayton laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing Barney to second. Tincher stepped in the box next and hit one back up the middle, but the pitcher snagged it and was able to throw over to first for the second out. Once again, Will Simpson was sent to first on an intentional walk. With two outs, Colby Wallace drove a hot line drive to the left side, but the shortstop was able to take two steps to his right to make the third out.
TOP OF 8
Raeth set the first batter down swinging at strike three. The next batter connected sending a base hit to right field. A nearly identical base hit followed. With runners on first and second, the next batter flew out to Barney in center. With Stanford threatening in a one-run ballgame, the crowd was on the edge of their seat as a pop up headed to shallow left field. Unfortunately neither new left fielder Preston Viltz or shorstop Cam Clayton could find it until it hit the ground scoring Stanford's first run of the game. With runners on second and third now, the next batter was sent to first with an intentional walk. The bases now loaded for Raeth, he battled and delivered a fierce swinging strike three.
BOTTOM OF 8
Viltz got things started in the eighth with a line drive base hit past the right of the second baseman. Cole Miller laid a sacrifice bunt down the first base line to put the go ahead run on second base. Two batters later Josh Urps took a pitch off the foot putting two aboard. The first pitch to McKay Barney went under the catcher all the way to the backstop advancing the runners. With a golden opportunity, McKay Barney stepped in and hit a hard ground ball past a diving first baseman scoring Urps and Viltz to put the Dawgs up 3-1. Barney stole second and the throw skipped by into center field. The center fielder then misplayed it handing Barney third base. A wild pitch to Clayton scored Barney for a fourth Husky run before a grounder to second ended the inning.
TOP OF 9
Raeth started off the ninth delivering a ground out to Urps at second. Batter number two sent a fly ball down the right field line, but Cole Miller turned on the wheels and made it over in time for the catch. With a 2-2 count, one strike from a win, the next batter sent a shot over the wall in right center making it a 4-2 ballgame. A hard single to center brought the tying run to the plate. The batter worked a full count before a breaking ball outside sent him down to first. Next, a base hit to the left side scored the runner from second leaving runners on the corners. With the tying run at third and the go ahead run at first, Raeth put an end to the Stanford rally delivering a lazy fly ball to Barney in center to end the game.
Starter Jared Engman held Stanford scoreless over six complete innings giving up just six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Stefan Raeth took the win giving up three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
The Huskies go for the series win in game two tomorrow at 2:05 p.m.