3-2 Win Ends Non-Conference Play

Sunday, March 8

San Jose, CA

9:00 AM

University of Washington

23-2

Saint Mary's (California)

7-17

St. Mary's

Washington

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

March 08, 2020 | Softball

Box Score

SAN JOSE, Ca. – The #2 Washington Huskies took their final game of the weekend 3-1, defeating the Saint Mary's Gaels. SilentRain Espinoza's two-run double was the difference in a game that Washington never trailed. The Huskies are 23-2 now entering Pac-12 play next weekend.

Baylee Klingler had a double and an RBI single as well to account for Washington's other run. Each of Washington's first six hitters in the order had a hit in the game.

Brooke Nelson struck out the first batter she faced in a portend of things to come. Saint Mary's did not put a runner in scoring position against Nelson until the sixth inning. In all, the freshman would throw 3.1 innings and allow only one run.

Gabbie Plain closed out Nelson's third win of the season with a scoreless seventh. She recorded four strikeouts in the inning thanks to a wild pitch that gave Saint Mary's its only baserunner.

B4 | Si breaks the tie!

SMC 1
UW 3#MightyAreTheWomen pic.twitter.com/FUGVPYBGSw
— Washington Softball (@UWSoftball) March 8, 2020

		SCORING
First Inning: Klingler's hit streak reached nine games with her RBI double to score Sis Bates, who singled and stole second earlier in the inning. Third Inning: With a runner on first, Saint Mary's knocked back-to-back singles just out of reach of Husky gloves to tie it up 1-1. Fourth Inning: Three hits in a row to start the inning by the Dawgs broke the tie. Morganne Flores and Klingler singled, then Espinoza ripped a double over the centerfielder's head to score them both. Sixth Inning: Saint Mary's singled to right with two runners in scoring position. The first run scored, but Kaija Gibson threw a bullet home and Flores got the tag down to stop the Gaels from tying the game.

		NOTES
Klingler (2x3, R, RBI) has recorded multiple hits in nine straight games, with RBI in eight of those nine. In her last five games, Klingler has hit .765. Espinoza (1x3, 2B, 2 RBI) has hit .464 with six extra-base hits and 13 RBI in her last ten games. Pat Moore (2.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 K) has allowed one or fewer earned runs in seven straight appearances. In the fifth inning or later, Plain (1.0 IP, 4 K) has a 1.67 ERA.

Washington begins its home schedule next week, hosting the U.S. National Team on Thursday, March 12 before Utah visits for the first series of Pac-12 play.

Make sure to follow Husky Softball on Twitter with the username @UWSoftball and on Instagram at uwsoftball.