In a thrilling display of power and precision, the Washington Huskies flexed their muscles with three home runs to secure a 7-2 victory over Northwestern, clinching the Big Ten series. This win propels the Huskies to a 12-15 record overall, with a balanced 6-6 in conference play.
The day began with Hayden Lewis taking the mound, delivering a standout performance. Despite a rocky start, allowing a run and two hits in the first inning, Lewis found his rhythm. Over six innings, he surrendered just one additional hit and struck out four, showcasing his resilience and command.
The Huskies’ bats came alive in the fourth inning. With two outs and teammates Mic Paul and Ethan Swidler on base, Jackson Hotchkiss stepped up. On a 2-0 count, the sophomore unleashed a towering home run to centerfield, marking his eighth of the season and giving Washington a 3-1 lead.
The offensive fireworks didn’t stop there. In the sixth inning, Ethan Swidler added to the tally with a solo shot on the first pitch he faced, sending his third homer of the season over the centerfield wall.
The seventh inning saw Daniel Porras join the home run parade. After Hotchkiss reached on a leadoff single, Porras crushed a 404-foot homer to deep center, his fifth of the year. Ty Cowan contributed with an RBI double, driving in Blake Wilson to cap off the scoring.
On the mound, Bryce Johnson took over from Lewis in the seventh and closed out the game with authority. Over three innings, he allowed just two hits and one run, striking out two to earn his second save of the season.
Looking ahead, the Huskies are set to face a formidable challenge on Tuesday as they travel to Corvallis, Oregon, to take on the 16th-ranked Oregon State at 5:30 p.m.
DAWG BITES
- Jackson Hotchkiss continues to lead the team with his eighth homer of the season, boasting impressive stats: a .410 batting average, .902 slugging percentage, and .471 on-base percentage.
- Hayden Lewis notched his third win with a quality start, showcasing his skill with just three hits and one run allowed over six innings.