The Washington Huskies looked like they were well on their way to ending their four-game losing streak after jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning. But the California Golden Bears came storming back and extended UW’s losing streak with a 6-5 victory in 11 innings.
Coach Jason Kelly’s team scored 5 runs in the top of the frame thanks to a two-run home run from shortstop Cam Clayton. The scoring came at a torrid pace, as Clayton was followed by back-to-back RBI doubles from designated hitter Carson Ohland and third baseman Sam DeCarlo, and an RBI single from right fielder Braeden Terry as the Huskies rattled off 6 consecutive hits in the inning.
However, that was all the offense the Huskies could muster, as they only tallied 3 hits through the game’s other 10 innings, with Clayton accounting for 2 of them, going 3 for 5 on the day with 2 runs batted in and a run scored.
The Golden Bears stormed back to tie the game, headlined by a pair of home runs. Designated hitter Dominic Smaldino hit a solo shot in the fifth inning and a two-run home run from shortstop PJ Moutzouridis in the eighth inning.
Good bye baseball! 👋
Cam hammers a 2-run shot and the Dawgs lead!
📺 Pac-12 Bay Area
💻 https://t.co/xlMuzq0Bhv pic.twitter.com/sxdSQwVHYn— Washington Baseball (@UW_Baseball) May 18, 2024
In the eleventh, first baseman Peyton Schulze was the hero with a walk-off solo home run.
Grant Cunningham took the loss for the Huskies, his fourth of the year, working 2 innings with 2 hits, 2 walks, an earned run, and 3 strikeouts. Tyler Stasiowski earned his fifth win of the season following 3 perfect innings with 5 strikeouts.
But it wasn’t all bad news on Friday, as the Huskies clinched a spot in the Pac-12 Tournament after the Washington State Cougars lost to the No. 20 Oregon Ducks.
The Huskies dropped to 19-28-1 on the year and 10-19 in conference play, while the Golden Bears improved to 33-18 overall and 16-13 against the Pac-12. The two teams will finish up the regular season on Saturday afternoon at 12:05.