University of Washington
Valparaiso
Washington Opens Three-Game Set Against Valparaiso
April 02, 2026 | Baseball
All three games will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus with live stats available at HuskyStats.com.
DAWG BITES
- Washington defeated No. 9 Oregon State 18-2 on Tuesday for the first win over a ranked opponent this season. It was a dominant performance by the Huskies and the first win for Washington in Corvallis since 2018. The margin of defeat for the Beavers was the largest at home since April 26, 1973 (6-26 loss to Washington State).
- Colton Bower recorded Washington's 12th triple of the season on Tuesday. The Huskies rank fourth in the NCAA in total triples.
- Jackson Hotchkiss launched his eighth home run of the season against Northwestern on Sunday, setting a new career-high as he leads the team in big flies.
- He leads the team in batting average (.409), slugging percentage (.864), on base percentage (.474), home runs (8), multi-hit games (9), and is currently riding a 16-game reached base streak.
- Hotchkiss has already risen up the national ranks. He currently ranks 106th in the nation in total home runs and ninth in the Big Ten.
- The Husky pitching staff has distinguished itself among the best in the nation. The Dawgs rank 55th in strikeout to walk ratio (2.37), 59th in walks allowed per nine innings (3.89), 81st in strikeouts per nine innings (9.2), and 73rd in WHIP (1.45).
- Daniel Porras and Colton Bower are tied for the lead on the team with 30 hits. Terry and Hotchkiss are close behind, tied for third with 27 knocks. Bower also leads the team with 24 RBIs.
- Noah Kenney had his best start as a Husky on Friday, tossing a career-high 7.0 innings with a career-high nine strikeouts while allowing just one run on three hits. Kenney has pitched at least 4.1 innings in each of his outings this season.
- Hayden Lewis tossed his third start of at least 6.0 innings pitched, three or less hits, and two or less runs allowed on Sunday to lead Washington to a Big Ten series win over Northwestern.
- Washington is unbeaten in Big Ten series played at Husky Ballpark since joining the conference in 2025. The Dawgs have also won or split each of their home series in the last calendar year.
- The Huskies were picked to finish eighth in the Big Ten conference by D1Baseball.
SECOND 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. Smith begins his second season at the helm of the Huskies in 2026.
UP NEXT
Washington hosts Valparaiso for a three-game series beginning on Thursday at Husky Ballpark. It's the first ever meeting between the two teams. The Huskies will have Sunday off before hosting Gonzaga for two games on Monday and Tuesday to close the five-game homestand.
BELT TO BEAVS
The Huskies demolished No. 9 Oregon State by 16 runs on Tuesday, taking down the Beavers 18-2 at Goss Stadium. It's the first win for Washington at Oregon State since 2018 and the most runs the Huskies have put up in a game his season.
The Huskies jumped in front immediately, scoring four runs in the first, punctuated by a Daniel Porras two run homer. It was his sixth bomb of the year and the start of a massive night at the plate for the freshman. Porras finished his day going 3-4 with two runs batted in and a walk. He was one of two Huskies to close the day with three hits, joined by Colton Bower who went 3-5 with a double and a triple.
Liam Lierman made his first career start and diced up the Beavers, forcing grounders and fly outs along with three strikeouts in his career-high 5.1 innings pitched. In total, the freshman faced 22 batters and forced eight fly outs, four ground outs, and one double play while allowing just three hits and one run.
The Huskies were slugging up and down the lineup, with all but one starter recording at least one hit or RBI. In addition to Bower's and Porras's three hit nights, Jackson Hotchkiss, Braeden Terry, Mic Paul, and Alex Pearson each added two-hit performances in Corvallis. Landon Young, who pinch hit for Sam DeCarlo in the eighth inning, launched the second home run of his career to conclude the scoring on the night. He brought home Bower and Terry to make it a three-run shot.
Washington tied a season-high 17 hits in the win (March 8, at Indiana). It's also Washington's first win over a top-10 opponent since a 5-2 win at No. 10 UCLA (April 11, 2025), and the largest margin of defeat at home for the Beavers since April 23, 1973 (6-26 loss to Washington State).
DAWGS DOWN NORTHWESTERN
Washington took two of three against the Wildcats at Husky Ballpark to improve to 6-6 in Big Ten play.
Noah Kenney had a career day on Friday, leading the Huskies to a 7-2 series-opening win Northwestern jumped in front early with a leadoff home run in the first inning, but Noah Kenney quickly settled in to prevent further damage. The junior right-hander allowed just three hits in his career-high seven frames.
Daniel Porras led all batters on Friday with three hits, including a double and one RBI. Colton Bower and Blake Wilson both chipped in two-hit games as well, helping the Huskies to their 11 total knocks on the day and the 7-2 win.
The Huskies tagged three homers on Sunday to secure the series victory. Hayden Lewis turned in a strong start for the Dawgs, throwing 6.0 innings with only one run allowed on three hits. After giving up one run and two hits in the first inning, Lewis threw five more frames while allowing only one more hit.
Jackson Hotchkiss, Ethan Swidler, and Daniel Porras each went yard in the game, powering the Huskies to another 7-2 win.
THE HOME OF THE HUSKIES
Washington has won every Big Ten series played at Husky Ballpark since joining the conference last season. The Dawgs are also undefeated in every home series in the last calendar year, either splitting or taking series wins against every opponent on Montlake.
HOTCHKISS ON A HEATER
Jackson Hotchkiss has started the season on an absolute tear. After missing the month of February due to injury, he's made 16 starts in March and been the best offensive output for Washington. He's tallied a .409 batting average while scoring 22 runs on 27 hits. He has the most home runs on the team (8) and is third in doubles (6) while pacing the Huskies in slugging percentage (.864) and on base percentage (.474). Despite playing in only half the games this season, he ranks 106th nationally in total home runs.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON KENNEY
Noah Kenney has been named to the College Baseball Foundation's Pitcher of the Year watch list. Kenney is on of 141 of the nation's best hurlers that were listed according to the CBF. The pitchers on the watch list represent 26 different conferences and reflect the top mound performers to this point of the 2026 season.
Kenney has had a strong start to the campaign which has garnered him the national attention. He's collected two win so far in his six starts and has the most innings pitched (37.1) and strikeouts (42) of any Husky. The right-hander has seven appearances and six starts this year, pitching more than four innings each time he's taken the mound. Among his starts, he's thrown at least five innings in each, including five frames of hitless ball in a win against LMU and a career-high seven innings and nine strikeouts against Northwestern.
B1G-TIME BOWER
Colton Bower has been one of the best offense drivers for the Huskies as of late. He claimed his first Big Ten Player of the Week award (March 9) after a massive week at the plate.
Over the last 18 games, the catcher leads the team in RBIs (18), batting average (.431), slugging percentage (.897), and on base percentage (.485), is second on the team in total hits (25), extra base hits (13) and home runs (6).
He's contributed 14 runs, 25 hits, five doubles, two triples, six home runs, and 18 RBIs to power the Huskies to 12 wins. Defensively, he's also added the most plate outs (98) of any Husky and chipped in seven assists.
HUSKY HURLERS
The Huskies pitching staff has been dominant in the month of March. In total, the Washington pitching staff allowed an ERA of 4.17 over the last 18 contests. During the 12-6 stretch, the Husky pitchers have struck out 164 batters while allowing just 60 walks. Washington has surrendered just 11 home runs as well against 26 home runs for Husky hitters.
The Husky pitchers have climbed the national rankings thanks to an impressive clip of strikeouts per walk. Washington ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 55th in the NCAA in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.37). The Dawgs are averaging 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings, the sixth best in conference and 81st nationally. Washington is also surrendering just 3.89 walks per nine innings, sixth in the conference and 59th nationally.
TRIPLE THREAT
The Huskies have knocked 12 triples this season, the most in the Big Ten and the fourth-most in the NCAA. Braeden Terry leads the way with three, Sam DeCarlo, Mic Paul, Blake Wilson, and Colton Bower each have two, and Casen Taggart has one. The Huskies are averaging .43 triples per game, the seventh-most in the nation.
HOME RUN HUSKIES
Washington has brought the boom this season to the tune of 33 homers, the fifth-most in the Big Ten and the 79th most in the NCAA. Jackson Hotchkiss leads the way with eight, Colton Bower has seven, Daniel Porras has six, and Sam DeCarlo and Ethan Swidler each have three.
Bower is 10th in the conference in slugging percentage (.659) and 11th in home runs per game (.29) while Hotchkiss is ninth in the league in total home runs (8).
DAWG DEBUTS
18 Diamond Dawgs made their first career appearance so far this season. Position player debuts included Ian Draper, Ty Cowan, Aidan Dougherty, Drew Johnson, Mic Paul, Alexander Pearson, Daniel Porras, Kevin Spear, Ethan Swidler, and Landon Young. Pitching debuts include Carson Boesel, Bryce Johnson, Noah Kenney, Hayden Lewis, Liam Lierman, Jay Miller, Jack Wade, and Tyler Walker.
FRESH FACES
Washington features a new-look team in 2026, including 23 newcomers, 16 of whom are transfer players. The Huskies return 13 letterwinners from a season ago, including nine position player starters.
BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
Despite Washington's rise from 17th place in last season's poll to a fifth place finish, the Huskies have been left out of this season's Big Ten Preseason Poll. This year, the conference announced the voted top-six finishing programs.
1. UCLA
2. Oregon
3. USC
4. Nebraska
5. Indiana
6. Iowa
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