Dawgs Earn Series Win Over No. 8 UCLA Winning Game Two Of DH 5-4

SEATTLE - In game two of a double-header against No. 8 UCLA, the Washington Husky baseball team hoped to win their second game of the day as well as the series. Having taken the series against No. 6 Stanford just six days earlier, the Dawgs were a confident bunch as they looked to gain ground in the race for entry into the Pac-12 Tournament. Four runs in the third had the Huskies on the road to victory, but they were later handed back as the Bruins plated four of their own in the fifth. The Huskies would not be denied though as they grinded out a go-ahead run in the sixth and Ryan Velazquez held the Bruins scoreless for the final three innings to earn the save in a 5-4 win.

TOP OF 1
Calvin Kirchoff got the start on the mound today and soared through the first serving up a swinging strikeout, a pop out to left, and a fly out to center.

BOTTOM OF 1
In the bottom half, Barney reach on a throwing error by the shortstop. The Huskies were unable to capitalize though as Cam Clayton flew out to right, Johnny Tincher flew out to left, and Will Simpson flew out to center.

TOP OF 2
UCLA sent a fly out to center and a ground out to third to start the inning. With two outs, a single to second and a single up the middle put two on. Kirchoff was able to escape the inning himself though, fielding a one-hopper right back to him for the easy out at first.

BOTTOM OF 2
Guerrero and Snyder both went down swinging to start the inning. Christian Dicochea fouled a couple off, but UCLA's pitcher ultimately got him as well as he froze on a big, 2-2 breaking ball.

TOP OF 3
Once again, Kirchoff was able to field a grounder up the middle for an out to start the inning. He followed with a wicked breaking ball on a 2-2 count that the batter flailed at for strike three. With two outs the next batter was able to sneak a grounder up the middle, just out of the range of Urps at second, for a base hit. A walk followed to put two Bruins on base, but Kirchoff was able to get out of a jam again as the batter sent a fly ball to Colby Wallace in right.

BOTTOM OF 3
Wallace started off the third looking at strike three on the outside corner. Urps drew a full count walk to put a runner on with one out. Next, Barney sent a chopper up the middle. The second baseman fielded it a split second before Urps arrived in the basepath. Urps attempted to jump beyond the fielder, but a collision caused the ball to fall out with Urps safe on the error.  With two on Clayton sent a line drive over third for a double that scored Urps and put Barney on third. Tincher followed with a ground ball up the middle, scoring both Clayton and Barney. Tincher stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Simpson worked a full count to follow, but ultimately went down swinging for out number two. AJ Guerrero drove a base hit through the left side scoring Tincher to make it a 4-0 ballgame. UCLA finally got out of the inning as Snyder flew out to right field.

TOP OF 4
Kichoff started the inning by delivering a pop up to second for the first out. A walk followed putting one on. Next, Barney and Wallace met in right center with Barney making the call on a fly ball to haul in out number two. Finally, a fly ball down the left field line had Guerrero on his horse making the catch just across the line in foul territory. 

BOTTOM OF 4
Coby Morales put a charge into one to center to lead things off, but the center fielder was able to collect it with a few steps back. Wallace went down swinging for out number two. Urps followed with a drive to left center, but the center fielder was able to range over for out number three.

TOP OF 5
The leadoff batter worked a full count walk. Next, Barney chased down a ball in deep left center for the first out. Another walk put two on and brought a call to the bullpen. RHP Josh Emanuels took over on the mound and gave up a bloop single to shallow right to start things off.  With the bases now loaded a base hit through the left side plated the Bruin's first run. Another run came across when the next batter was grazed on an inside pitch. A ball to deep center field scored another run on the sacrifice to make it a 4-3 ballgame. With two outs and runners on first and second the next batter singled up the middle to tie things up. Once again, the Bruins had runners on first and second. An easy chopper to Simpson at first finally ended the inning with the score 4-4.

BOTTOM OF 5
Barney got good wood on a 2-0 pitch, but ultimately flew out to deep center field. Clayton followed with a ground out to the shortstop. Up next, Tincher worked a full count before being awarded first base when he was grazed by a ball slightly up and in. He would be left stranded though as Simpson went down swinging.

TOP OF 6
UCLA started with a deep drive to left, but Guerrero flew toward the warning track near the foul pole to make the catch. Emanuels then got the second batter to swing through strike three and got out of the inning with a ground ball to Urps at second.

BOTTOM OF 6
UCLA went to a new pitcher to start the inning. AJ Guerrero jumped on the first pitch to start the sixth, but sent a hard grounder right to the shortstop for out number one. Snyder stepped in next and was grazed by the first pitch and awarded first base. A wild pitch to Morales followed sending Snyder safely down to second, easily beating an off-target throw. A balk then sent him on to third. Coby Morales stepped in next and put the Dawgs back on top with an RBI grounder to first.  Colby Wallace drew a walk on four straight pitches which brought another call to the bullpen for the Bruins. Urps followed with a four pitch walk of his own. Barney ripped a shot through the right side sending Wallace flying around third, but a perfect throw from right field had him out at the plate on the slide.  The Dawgs took a 5-4 lead into the seventh.

TOP OF 7
RHP Ryan Velazquez took over for Emanuels to start the inning and delivered a grounder to a deep Cam Clayton at short who made a great play firing a one-hopper to Simpson at first.  The next batter singled up the middle to put a runner on, but a ground ball to Urps at second kicked off a 4-6-3 double play.

BOTTOM OF 7
Clayton led off flying out to left field. Tincher did the same to right. Simpson followed taking advantage of the left fielder shading toward center and laced a stand up double into the corner.  This brought another call to the bullpen. Guerrero ripped one through the right side. Simpson flew around third looking to score, but once again, a perfect throw from right earned an out at the plate.

TOP OF 8
Velazquez got the first batter to pop out to second on a 0-1 pitch. UCLA soon had a runner on though with a single through the right side. A grounder to second followed, but it was just slow enough that Urps' only play was to first.  With two outs a pinch hitter sent a drive to left, but Guerrero tracked it back to his right to easily make out number three.

BOTTOM OF 8
Wallace led off the inning with a grounder to third for out number one. Another call to the pen brought in a lefty. Washington countered sending right-handed batter Ben Smith in to pinch hit for Morales. With a full count he fouled off six pitches, but ultimately went down looking at a low strike three. Nick Hovland pinch hit for Wallace, but went down swinging for the third out.

TOP OF 9
Velazquez brought the heat to start the inning and sat down the first batter looking at strike three. Simpson made easy work of the next batter fielding a weak grounder down the first base line for an unassisted out. With two down, a grounder to Clayton brought a strong throw to first for the final out of the game and a 5-4 Husky win.

Josh Emanuels took the win improving to 2-4 on the season. He went 1.2 innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, with no walks and a strikeout. Starter Calving Kirchoff went 4.1 innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts.  Ryan Velazquez earned his third save giving up no runs on 2 hits with no walks and a strikeout over 3 innings of work.

The Huskies go for the series sweep against UCLA tomorrow at noon.