Huskies' Season Comes To A Close At Pac-12 Tournament

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Following a Day One loss to Oregon State in the double-elimination Pac-12 Tournament yesterday, the Huskies needed a win as they faced UCLA in a loser-out scenario today. The Dawgs took the field in the heat at Scottsdale Stadium and got out to an early 1-0 lead in the first after a Johnny Tincher sacrifice fly delivered Cam Clayton across the plate. UCLA would tie it up, but the Dawgs would grab a 3-1 lead in the second on a two-run home run by Coby Morales. UCLA answered with three in the third and two more in the top of the fifth. Three Husky runs in the bottom half would tie things up however, this time highlighted by a two-run Josh Urps home run.  With the Bruins tacking five more on over the sixth and seventh, a Christian Dicochea solo shot in the seventh offered little to keep pace. The Bruins then plated three more in the eighth to make it a 14-7 ballgame heading into the bottom half of the ninth. Leadoff batter Michael Snyder jumped on the first pitch and drove one off the wall in right center for an inside the park home run, but it was too little, too late as the Huskies fell to the Bruins 14-8 ending their tournament run. 

TOP OF 1
Lefty Adam Bloebaum got the start on the mound and delivered an easy chopper to Josh Urps at second for out number one. A liner to Urps again quickly brought a second out. A fly out to straight away center sent the Huskies in to the dugout to get ready for their first plate appearances of the day.

BOTTOM OF 1
Cam Clayton led off for the first time this year and drove a base hit into shallow center field. Urps followed and laid down a sacrifice bunt to the first baseman to advance Clayton to second. With one out, Johnny Tincher stepped in. Clayton stole third and then Tincher drove a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Huskies the early lead. Will Simpson followed, but went down on strikes to end the inning.

TOP OF 2
Bloebaum sent the lead off batter back to the dugout after freezing him on strike three. The inning's second batter sent a line drive into the left field corner for a double. A drive to center was no problem for Cole Miller who hauled it in for out number two.  The next batter slapped one through the right side. Coby Morales charged it and fired home, but the runner just beat the throw to tie the game at one a piece.  A chopper to Clayton brought the final out with a flip to Urps at second.

BOTTOM OF 2
Leading off, AJ Guerrero punched one into right center for a base hit. Michael Snyder followed with a hard hit to third that was bobbled, but corralled just in time to fire over to first for out number one.  On the play, Guerrero advanced to second. Morales stepped to the plate next and absolutely clobbered one over the fence in right center to give the Dawgs a 3-1 lead.  Ground outs from Dicochea and Miller sent the Huskies back out on the field.

TOP OF 3
A lead off walk put a runner on for UCLA. A grounder to Urps brought the inning's first out with the toss to Clayton at second base.  With that runner reaching with a fielder's choice, the next batter flew out to Morales in right for out number two. A base hit to right field followed putting runners on first and second.  An opposite field base hit from a lefty followed, scoring the runner on second and leaving runners on the corners.  Bloebaum then gave up a deep drive to right center that plated two, giving UCLA a 4-3 lead. A chopper to Urps at second would retire the side.

BOTTOM OF 3
Back at the top of the order, Clayton led off with a ground out to second. Urps would go down swinging for out number two. Tincher followed with a line drive toward left, but a leaping grab by the shortstop delivered the third out for the Huskies.

TOP OF 4
Snyder fielded a grounder down the line from the lead off batter and fired across for out number one. Bloebaum then delivered a swinging strikeout for his second of the day. A shot to the wall in right center followed resulting in a two-out double, but a fly out to Guerrero in left would send things to the bottom half.

BOTTOM OF 4
Simpson stepped in first, but swung over the top of strike three. Guerrero drove a deep ball to right center, but the outfielder playing just in front of the track easily ranged over for the catch. With two down, Snyder grounded out to short to retire the side.

TOP OF 5
A breaking ball off the rear leg of the lead off batter put a runner on for UCLA and triggered a call to the bullpen. With RHP Case Matter now on the mound, a stolen base put a runner in scoring position. The next batter turned on a full count pitch and drove it down the left field line for an RBI double to make it a 5-3 ballgame. A Texas leaguer dropped into shallow left field next to put runners on the corners. A base hit to center would plate another run for UCLA leaving runners on first and second. Matter then sat the next batter down on a checked swing. A fly ball to center allowed Miller to collect out number two. A chopper to Simpson followed and with a flip to Matter on the base, the side was retired.

BOTTOM OF 5
Morales went down on strikes to lead off the fifth. A ground ball to second brought a second out from Dicochea. Miller stepped in next and drove a double down the left field line. Clayton followed with a line drive through the right side. A throw to the plate initially ruled Miller out at home, but an umpire's review reversed the call to obstruction by the catcher to make it a 6-4 ballgame. Josh Urps followed with a big home run to right to tie it up, 6-6.  Following a pitching change, Tincher went down on strikes.

TOP OF 6
Matter sat down the lead off batter looking at three straight pitches. A grounder to Snyder drew a slightly wide throw to first, but Simpson came off the bag to make the catch and the tag for out number two.  A hard grounder past a diving Snyder at third resulted in a two-out double.  A pitching change was made bringing RHP Ryan Velazquez to the mound. A wild pitch advanced the base runner to third.  A hit to left center plated the runner on third to give the Bruins a 7-6 lead. With two outs and a runner on first, the next batter sent Miller tracking back toward the center field wall where he made the catch for out number three.

BOTTOM OF 6
A leadoff single to left by Simpson got the sixth started for the Dawgs. Guerrero reached on a fielder's choice as a grounder to third was sent to second, but no throw was made to first. UCLA argued that Simpson's slide interfered with the throw, but the call stood after an umpire review. With one out and one on, Snyder stepped in next but went down swinging for out number two. A chopper to first by Morales resulted in an unassisted put out to retire the side. 

TOP OF 7
A leadoff single up the middle put one on for the Bruins. Velazquez then dealt a swinging strikeout for out number one. The next batter drew a full count walk to put two on. A hit batter would follow triggering a call to the pen. Righty Josh Emanuels took over on the mound with one out and the bases loaded. A pinch hit RBI double down the left field line plated two for the Bruins to make it a 9-6 ballgame. With runners on second and third and the defense playing in, a chopper over third would bring two more across the plate. The next batter delivered a line drive to short where Clayton made a tremendous diving catch, recovered, and made the throw across to first to double up the runner and end the inning.

BOTTOM OF 7
Looking for a spark, Dicochea wasted no time driving a home run over the right field fence to make it 11-7. Miller followed with a single through the right side. Following a pitching change, Clayton grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Then Urps lined out to right field.

TOP OF 8
Right-hander Calvin Kirchoff took over on the mound to start the inning. A one-hopper to the fence in left center gave the Bruins a runner on second. A base hit to center put runners on the corners. The next batter went the other way with a base hit to right for an RBI. With runners on first and second and no outs, the next batter walked on seven pitches. A pop up to shallow left center fell in plating another to make it 13-7.  Left-hander Stu Flesland III was brought in from the pen. A sacrifice fly to left brought the first out of the inning, but plated another run for the Bruins. The next batter lifted an infield fly that was ultimately caught by Urps. With two down, Flesland snagged a chopper above his head and tossed over to Simpson to retire the side.

BOTTOM OF 8
Tincher led off and hit one sharply to second, but it was fielded and thrown over for out number one. The center fielder was playing Simpson on the edge of the warning track and chased down a ball to the wall in left center for the second out of the inning. Again on the track with Guerrero at the plate, the right fielder this time shaded toward center to haul in the third out as he backed into the wall.

TOP OF 9
A grounder to the hot corner was no trouble for Snyder who fired over to first for out number one. Flesland III sat the next batter down swinging.  With two down, the next batter sent a ground to Simpson who took it to the bag for out number three.

BOTTOM OF 9
Snyder led off the inning and jumped on the first pitch sending it off the top of the wall in right center for an inside the park home run! With the score now 14-8, Morales stepped in and ripped a base hit up the middle. Dicochea followed with a grounder to short. With a bobble, the only play was to get Dicochea at first.  With Morales now on second, Miller dug in and sent a high chopper to third but a strong throw across brought out number two. Clayton stepped in next and got just under the first pitch popping up to the pitcher to end the game.
 

• Starter Adam Bloebaum went four innings offering five runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
• Case Matter took the loss moving to 2-3 on the season. He went one and two-thirds offering up two runs on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
• Stu Flesland III was impressive in the final two innings recording no runs, no hits, no walks, and one strikeout.