Coach Jason Kelly and the Washington Huskies took part in one of the craziest college baseball games of all time on Sunday, but couldn’t come out on top, losing to the Arizona State Sun Devils 21-18. The Sun Devils also took the series 2-1, doing just enough to overcome left fielder AJ Guerrero, who did everything in his power to will the Huskies to victory.
Guerrero went 5 for 7 with 8 runs batted in and 3 runs scored. He blasted a two-run home run in the first inning and a three-run homer in the eighth, to go along with three RBI singles as Arizona State’s pitching staff had no answer for him.
Right fielder Braeden Terry reached base 6 times, going 4 for 5 with 2 walks, 2 runs batted in and 4 runs scored in the contest, while second baseman Aiva Arquette reached base 5 times, tallying a 3 for 5 day with 2 walks and 4 runs scored.
First baseman Jeter Ybarra went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 2 runs batted in from a double in the fifth inning where the Huskies pushed 7 runs across. Designated hitter Carson Ohland also made a big impact, going 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 walks as the Huskies gave a massive boost to their on base percentages, recording 22 hits and 9 walks.
THE HOTTEST MAN ON PLANET EARTH IS AJ GUERRERO!!!
📺 Pac-12 Arizona
💻 https://t.co/pfofOvKtXd pic.twitter.com/9P94RGmXMq— Washington Baseball (@UW_Baseball) May 5, 2024
However, it still wasn’t enough as the Sun Devils tallied 23 hits led by second baseman Ethan Mendoza, who had a perfect 4 for 4 day with 2 walks, 3 runs batted in and 5 runs scored, finishing a triple shy of the cycle after a go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning to put Arizona State ahead for good. Right fielder Nick McClain also went 5 for 5 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and 3 runs scored.
Ryan Schafer earned the win for Arizona State, his first of the season after working 1 2/3 innings and completing a tougher task, being the only pitcher in the game to not allow an earned run, letting up 1 hit and 2 walks. Sawyer Parkin took the loss for the Huskies, his first of the year, after the Sun Devils knocked him around for 5 hits and 4 earned runs over 1 1/3 innings.
The loss pushed the Huskies down to 18-22-1 on the year and 9-15 against Pac-12 opponents, while the Sun Devils improved to 26-23 overall and 14-13 in conference play. Washington will remain in the desert for a Tuesday afternoon matchup with Grand Canyon University at 1:00.