The Seattle University baseball team had its chances in both the eighth and ninth innings, but the Washington Huskies were able to hold on for a 4-2 victory Tuesday evening in collegiate action at Husky Ballpark.
Washington (4-8) jumped on the scoreboard as Jayce Ray led off the bottom of the third inning with a double to left-center field, advanced to third on a groundout to the right side of the infield, and scored on a single to left field by Robert Pehl.
Seattle U threatened to score in the top of the fourth inning as Brian Olson (Black Diamond, Wash.) drew a leadoff walk and Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) followed with a bunt single. Grant Newton (Bend, Ore.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners, but Cash McGuire (Kent, Wash.) popped out and, after Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.) was intentionally walked to load the bases, Chase Fields (Ontario, Ore.) sent a lazy flyout to center field to end the Redhawk threat.
The Huskies added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Alex Schmidt drew a one-out walk and Will Sparks followed with a home run to left-center field to extend Washington's advantage to 3-0. Washington earned another run in the fifth inning as Ray led off with a single to right field, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a deep fly ball to right-center field, and scored on a double to left field by Trevor Mitsui.
The Redhawks finally broke through in the eighth inning when Narby singled and came around to score on a double by Newton. McGuire followed with a single, advancing pinch runner Nick Latta (Tacoma, Wash.) to third, and Hendrickson drove Latta home with a sacrifice fly to center field. Pinch hitter Steve Kirbach (Kirkland, Wash.) singled to right field to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but Landon Cray (Chimacum, Wash.) struck out to end the inning.
In the ninth inning, Ryan Somers (Sammamish, Wash.) laced a one-out double down the right field line, and Olson followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Washington pitcher Tyler Kane recovered, striking out Narby and inducing a game-ending groundout from pinch hitter Josh Kutz (Seattle, Wash.).
Skyler Genger (Kent, Wash.) took the loss for the Redhawks, allowing six hits, one walk, and three runs in four innings of work. Washington starter Jared Fisher gave up three hits and three walks through the first four innings before being replaced by Nick Palewicz, who earned the victory with one inning of one-hit relief.
McGuire led the Redhawks with a 3-for-4 performance, while Cray and Narby each went 2-for-5 as Seattle U collected 12 total hits, but the Redhawks stranded 13 runners, eight of them in scoring position. Ray led the Huskies with three hits and two runs scored as Washington earned 11 hits off Genger and Garrett Anderson (Kennewick, Wash.). Jake Chutney (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and Ben Ruff (Fife, Wash.) pitched well in relief late in the game to keep Seattle U within striking distance down the stretch.
Seattle University (3-10) heads south for a three-game series at the University of Portland, starting Friday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field. Dan Giuliani will broadcast the game on GoSeattleU.com, starting with the pregame show at approximately 1:40 p.m.