Washington Nips UNM 4-3 in Extras
SEATTLE, Wash. — Washington’s Will Simpson singled just inside the third base bag and just outside of the glove of Willie Cano to plate Braiden Ward in the 10th inning as Washington took the opening game of a three-game set 4-3 in extras. The loss spoiled a spirited comeback by UNM and a brilliant performance by pitcher Nathaniel Garley, who retired his final 12 batters.
The series was a late addition after both teams had opponents knocked out due to COVID and contract tracing. New Mexico was supposed to host UNLV and Washington was scheduled to travel to Stanford. With both series canceled, UNM instead made the trek to Seattle for three games.
The 10th was pivotal for both teams, as UNM wasn’t able to take advantage of its opportunity, and Washington was. In the top of the 10th, Adam Schneider was hit by a pitch and then Mack Chambers in an effort to bunt him over was able to beat out the throw to give UNM runners on first and second with no out. A wild pitch gave UNM two runners in scoring position with no one out.
With the infield in, Mack Chambers, who was 3-for-5 on the day, smoked a ball right at the shortstop for an out. After an intentional walk to Kyle Landers, the bases were loaded for Harry Fullerton. With an 0-1 count, UNM tried a suicide squeeze, but Washington lucked out as the 0-1 pitch was nearly a wild pitch. Fullerton tried to get a piece of it but missed, and Schneider was a dead duck at the plate. Fullerton struck out on the next pitch, and Washington made UNM pay dearly.
Ward opened the inning with his third single of the day and he was sacrificed to second. After Cody Dye hit the next batter, he ran the count to 3-2 on Simpson, who barely snuck his single between the bag and Cano’s glove for the win.
“We’ve lost 11 tight games in the ninth or extra innings,” said head coach Ray Birmingham. “These kids can’t seem to catch a break. It’s a tribute to them that they keep competing hard every day.”
It spoiled a wonderful effort by senior Nate Garley, who allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings, but all of that came early. He retired his final 12 batters that he faced and he didn’t walk anyone.
Offensively, UNM trailed 1-0 after a sacrifice fly but Cano doubled home Jarrett Gonzales to tie it at 1-1. UNM trailed 3-1 into the seventh when Gonzales was in the middle of it again. With one out hie singled to right and Chase Weissenborn in his first game back from injury singled for his second hit of the game.
The inning nearly ended on an Adam Schneider grounder, but his speed prevented a double play. That put runners on the corners for Chambers, who laced a single, moving Schneider to third to cut it to 3-2. Chambers than ran to second, and it looked like he was attempting to get into a rundown to allow Schneider to score, but Washington catcher Michael Petrie trying to bluff a throw to second, but the ball actually got loose and sailed into left center. Schneider walked home to tie and Chambers cross all the way to third, but he was stranded when Kyler Castillo’s 100+ MPH rocket was right at the third baseman for a very loud third out.
NOTES: Chambers led UNM with three hits, and Weissenborn and Gonzales each had two hits … Matt Haley retired the only batter he faced. Garley, Haley and Cody Dye combined to retire 17 straight batters from the third to the ninth innings.