AUSTIN, Texas – Washington opened up with a big lead over No. 14 Texas on Saturday and held it through the final out, locking up the series over the Longhorns with a 5-3 win at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Husky starter Calvin Kirchoff got the win, matching his career-high with six strikeouts and holding the Texas offense to four hits over six. Sam Boyle earned his first save of the season, scattering three hits over three scoreless frames.
Scoring the final eight runs of Friday’s ballgame, the Huskies picked up right where they left off. Following a Cam Clayton leadoff walk and an Aiva Arquette double, Jeter Ybarra lifted a sacrifice fly for the game’s first run.
A few pitches later, AJ Guerrero tattooed an inside offering, pulling a two-run home run over the left field wall to make it 3-0 after one.
The Huskies loaded the bases in the third, adding a pair of insurance runs on ground balls to go ahead 5-0.
Solo home runs in the third and fourth pulled the Longhorns closer and UT added another with a two-out rally in the sixth, closing the gap to 5-3 heading down the stretch.
A leadoff double in the ninth gave the Longhorns life but Boyle slammed the door shut, collecting the final three outs to secure the series for the Huskies.
Washington and Texas will do battle one final time on Sunday, scheduled for an 11 am PT first pitch. The game will be aired live on the Longhorn Network.
DAWG BITES
• The Huskies have won six of their last seven games against ranked opponents
• Calvin Kirchoff struck out a career-high six batters for the second start in a row, matching his output from last weekend’s series versus Stanford
• Sam Boyle has not allowed an earned run over his last three relief outings, totaling 8.1 innings
• As a team, the UW bullpen has not allowed an earned run in its last five games, spanning 21.1 innings
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