University of Washington
Oregon
Washington Visits No. 5 Oregon In B1G Clash
May 07, 2025 | Baseball
The three game series will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus with live stats available at Huskystats.com. First pitch for Friday's contest is scheduled for 6:02 p.m.
DAWG BITES
- Washington won its sixth Big Ten series over the weekend, taking down conference leader Iowa. The Huskies won their eighth-straight Big Ten series opener, staying perfect in Friday conference matchups.
- The Diamond Dawgs won two of three against Iowa in dramatic fashion, taking games one and two both by walk offs. On Friday, Blake Wilson used an RBI bunt single in the ninth inning to score the winning run before Colton Bower hit a walk off two run homer in the ninth inning on Saturday.
- The Huskies held Iowa to three runs on Friday and one run on Saturday despite the Hawkeyes averaging more than eight runs per game.
- Josh Emanuels had his best outing of the season on Friday, tossing 3.2 innings while allowing one hit, no walks, and striking out six batters, tying a season-high for Ks.
- Max Banks has thrown at least 5.1 innings in nine of his 10 starts this season, including Friday against Iowa. He allowed six hits, three runs, three walks, and struck out three batters. Malakhi Knight was a perfect 3-3 at the plate on Saturday night and added a HBP. He scored two of the three runs for Washington.
- Washington's pitching has been dominant lately, rising to 55th in the country in hits allowed per nine innings (8.63).
- The Huskies have been aggressive on the base paths, owning the second-most stolen bases in the conference, also 55th in the nation (84).
- Guerrero's four-home runs last week moved him into a tie for third in the record book for career home runs. (T-1. 42, Kyle Conley, 2006-09; T-1. 42, Ed Erickson, 1997-00; T-3. 41, Zach Clem, 2003-06; T-3. 41, AJ Guerrero, 2021-25; 5. 36, Will Simpson, 2020-23).
- 20 Huskies have made their program debuts (Banks, Boyd, Brandenburg, Bronzini, Bujacich, Crawford, Curran, Denomme, Gilbert, Henning, Hotchkiss, Knight, Kole, Nichols, O'Neal, Sanders, Taggart, Thomas, Tims, W. Woodward).
1 - 2025 is the first season for Eddie Smith at the helm for UW. The Olympia, Wash. native comes to the Huskies after three years at Utah Valley.
41 - AJ Guerrero moved into a tie for third all-time in program history with 41 home runs and just one behind the leaders in first (42).
5 - Washington is currently fifth in the Big Ten standings with an 15-9 record. The Diamond Dawgs trail Iowa (21-6), No. 18 UCLA (17-7), No. 5 Oregon (16-8), and USC (16-8).
50 - Max Banks is allowing 6.67 hits per nine innings, the 50th-best mark in the NCAA and the seventh-best in the Big Ten conference.
FIRST SEASON UNDER SMITH
On July 9, 2024, Eddie Smith was named the 25th head coach of University of Washington baseball, announced by UW Director of Athletics Pat Chun. Smith, a native of Olympia, Washington, comes to Montlake after three seasons at Utah Valley, quickly turning the Wolverines around from a Western Athletic Conference bottom dweller to one of the nation's most feared mid-major outfits.
UP NEXT
The Huskies head to Eugene to take on No. 5 Oregeon in a Big Ten series beginning on Friday, May 9.
SIXTH BIG TEN SERIES WIN
The Huskies secured another conference series win over the weekend, taking two of three against Big Ten leader Iowa in dramatic fashion. The Huskies used two walk off wins to secure the series - first, a bunt single from Blake Wilson in the ninth inning on Friday night scored Malakhi Knight for the 4-3 victory. Then, on Saturday, Colton Bower launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to put Washington up 3-1 and secure both the win and series.
B1G TIME HUSKIES
The Diamond Dawgs have adapted well to the new conference, currently sitting fifth in the Big Ten standings with an 15-9 record. The Huskies trail Iowa (21-6), No. 18 UCLA (17-7), No. 5 Oregon (16-8), and USC (16-8). Washington has won six of its eight Big Ten series and is undefeated in series-opening games.
The Huskies were picked to finish 17th out of 17 teams by D1 Baseball in the conference season preview.
This year's Big Ten tournament will feature 12 teams and incorporate pool play with four groups consisting of three teams each. The four pool winners will meet in the single-elimination semifinals on May 24, followed by the championship game on May 25.
BANKS BALLING
Max Banks had another strong start for Washington on Friday, leading the Huskies to an eighth-straight Big Ten series opening win. Against Iowa, Banks threw 5.1 innings, his ninth game with at least as many frames. The Diamond Dawgs' ace owns a 6-2 record on the season with seven starts of at least 6.0 innings pitched. On six occasions, Banks has tossed 6.0 or more innings with less than two runs allowed.
He's risen in the national rankings lately, climbing to 50th in hits allowed per nine innings (6.67), 75th in victories (6), 80th in WHIP (1.13), and 120th in ERA (3.49).
In addition to the above stats, Banks also leads the Huskies in batting average against (.208), batters struck out (52), batters struck out looking (17), least runs allowed (22), and least walks allowed (22).
GOING, GOING, GUERRERO
Senior slugger AJ Guerrero moved into a tie for third all-time in career home runs at Washington last week (41). He's now just one shy of tying the program. (T-1. 42, Kyle Conley, 2006-09; T-1. 42, Ed Erickson, 1997-00; T-3. 41, Zach Clem, 2003-06; T-3. 41, AJ Guerrero, 2022-25; 5. 36, Will Simpson, 2020-23).
The Fife, Wash. native leads Washington in multi-hit games (20), hits (62), doubles (15), total bases (101), slugging percentage (.543), home runs (8), is second in batting average (.333), runs scored (39), on base percentage (.432), and Walks (29).
BIG PLAY YEAGER
Isaac Yeager has become one of the most dependable relief arms on the team and added his fifth and sixth saves of against Illinois to clinch the series. He ranks fifth in the conference and 51st in the NCAA in total saves and is second on the team in total strikeouts (48). He also has a team-high 20 appearances on the season.
SLAMMIN' SAMMY
Sam DeCarlo, the Diamond Dawgs' joint-home run leader, slugged his eighth home run of the season against Northwestern last week. DeCarlo leads the Huskies in runs scored (40), is second in hits (55), second in multiple hit games (14), and second in total bases (84). He's been far more than just a power hitter, however. The shortstop has been a beacon of consistency for Washington this season, serving as the only Husky to start every game this and leads the team with 112 assists. He's also second on the team in fielding double plays (24). DeCarlo was also named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List, making him one of the top-100 shortstops in the nation.
TIMS TIME
Freshman hurler Justin Tims has become a consistent Sunday pitcher for the Huskies, earning 10 starts including his last seven as a weekend starter. In his most recent outing against Iowa, he tossed the opening 5.0 innings, allowing three hits and just one run against four walks and four strikeouts. Four of Tims' starts have included at least 5.0 innings pitched with two or less runs allowed.
His best performance this season came against Purdue, helping Washington to a sweep of the Boilermakers. The freshman pitched a career-best 6.0 innings and eight strikeouts against zero walks. He's brought his ERA down to 5.13 on the season and owns a 1-4 record. Batters are hitting .273 against him with four or less hits allowed in eight of his 10 starts.
RISPY BUSINESS
Four Huskies are batting over .300 with runners in scoring position (Taggart - .417, DeCarlo - .367, Bower - .333, Terry - .306). Casen Taggart leads the team in batting average (.348) and on base percentage (.497).
WALKING THE WALK
Casen Taggart has shown his patience at the plate, earning 42 walks this season. He's among the best in taking bases on balls in the country, sitting 37th in the NCAA in total walks and third in the Big Ten. On a per game basis, Taggart has the 17th-highest mark in the country and is also third the Big Ten (1.00). He's collected four walks on two occasions this season, most recently against Purdue (4/6).
Taggart also owns the longest reached base streak on the team this season, currently sitting at 23 straight games.
DOUBLE PLAY DAWG DEFENSE
Washington has been efficient defensively throughout the season. The Huskies have turned 37 double plays, the seventh-best mark in the Big Ten and the 45th-best in the NCAA.
The Huskies fielding percentage sits at .977, the sixth-best in the conference and 36th in the NCAA.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Last weekend in Illinois, the Huskies homered four times against Northwestern on Saturday and three times against UIC on Monday. The Diamond Dawgs have been largely successful when hitting more than one home run in a game, owning a 11-3 record in such games. When Washington hits zero or one home run, the Huskies are 14-18.
THOMAS ON TOP
Jackson Thomas has been a consistent starter for the Huskies since making his first start against San Francisco earlier this season. He's turned in 10 total starts, nine of which he's gone for at least 5.0 innings. In seven of those starts, he's allowed two or less runs, including on Saturday against Iowa.
Among pitchers reaching the minimum of 1.0 IP per game, he leads the team in innings pitched (57.1), doubles allowed (7), and home runs allowed (5). He's also second on the team in earned run average (3.92), opposing batting average (.256), runs allowed (25), and walks allowed (22).
Thomas previously played under Head Coach Eddie Smith at Utah Valley. While there, the right-hander amassed a 3-1 record in 38.1 innings pitched. He played in 12 games and made five starts, with opponents batting .271 against him.
BOWER BOOMING
Colton Bower has been a force behind the plate and as a hitter this season. Defensively, he's caught 12 runners stealing. As a batter, Bower's logged six home runs and has 31 hits on the season, including seven doubles.
In the Big Ten rankings, Bower is second in both hit by pitch (19) and in hit by pitch per game (0.45). Bower is also in the top-40 in both hit by pitch statistics nationally, coming in at 37th in total HBP and 34th in per game.
His 19 pitches worn this season are tied for the third-most in a season in program history.
D3 DIAMONDS
For the third straight year, Washington has hit the NCAA Division III ranks to add to its pitching staff through the transfer portal. The Huskies added right-hander Max Banks who enjoyed a strong three-year career at Division III Chapman, collectively going 12-4, 3.35 in three seasons with a 185-to-67 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 150 2/3 innings. Last season, Washington signed right-hander Spencer Dessart out of Middlebury College in Vermont, who posted a 4.32 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 50 innings. And in 2023, UW brought in D3 transfer Kiefer Lord out of Minnesota's Carleton College, with Lord going on to be a third round draft choice in the 2023 MLB Draft.
IT CAN WAIT
For the third year in a row, a Washington commit turned down the opportunity to sign with an MLB team to join the Husky roster. Jackson Hotchkiss was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but opted to take his talents to UW first. Last season, Blake Wilson was drafted in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals but still made his way to Montlake. Former Husky Aiva Arquette was a 18th round draft choice by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022 before coming to campus.
