Huskies Drop Game One Against Cal

Thursday, May 23

Seattle, WA

6:00 PM

University of Washington

28-23, 0

California

31-18, 0

California

Washington

Braiden Ward had four hits, three stolen bases and scored five times in a 25-8 win over UNC.

May 23, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Brian Tom

SEATTLE -- Cal started and finished strong, putting up five runs in both the first and ninth innings, to run away from Washington with an 18-8 series-opening win Thursday night at Husky Ballpark. Cal (31-18, 16-11 Pac-12) scored at least one run in seven innings and pounded out a season-high 24 hits.

The Huskies fell to 28-23 overall and 12-16 in Pac-12 play.

After a lead-off single by Cameron Eden off David Rhodes (5-6) to start the game, No. 2 hitter Quentin Selma belted a two-run home run. The hits jolted the Bears' lineup awake as they would go on to score three more runs and bat around before the Huskies even picked up their bats.

The Bears added two runs in the second and three more in the third inning to reach double digits in hits and runs before the Huskies started to show some fight of their own in the third

Despite the big hole, the Huskies didn't roll over and started to chip away at Cal's 10-run lead. They would bat around and score five times to cut the lead in half. Ben Baird drove home the first run with a run-scoring double and then scored on a ground out, setting the scene for a productive inning.

UW would go on to load the bases, setting the table for some strange doings. The next three runs scored with two outs and without the Huskies putting the ball into play. Rollie Nichols walked to force in the third run and two more scored when catcher Korey Lee threw the ball into centerfield trying to simply throw the ball back to the mound after a pitch.

That was as close as the Huskies would get as they would exchange runs with the Bears three times before Cal broke it open in the ninth with five runs. Lee provided the big blow with a grand-slam homer.

The top three hitters in the Huskies lineup – Braiden Ward, Mason Cerrillo and Nick Kahle – each had two of Washington's nine hits on the night.

Cal's Sam Stoutenborough (8-4) threw the first 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win for the Bears.

The Huskies will try to even the series on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. It is Bark at the Park night at Husky Ballpark with fans invited to bring their dogs to the game.