Washington Takes Opener Against No. 10 UCLA In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – The Huskies came out on top in the first of three games against No. 10 UCLA, taking down the Bruins 5-2 on Friday night. Washington has now won six straight games and moves over .500 for the first time since February.
 
The win is Washington’s highest-ranked victory since a 9-0 win over No. 9 Stanford on April 22, 2023.
 
The Huskies improve to 18-17 on the season and 9-4 in Big Ten play. UCLA drops to 26-7 and 10-3 in conference games.
 
Max Banks took to the bump for Washington and delivered yet again for the Huskies. He tossed 6.0 innings with two runs allowed, the fifth occasion this season he’s allowed two or less runs in a start of 6.0 innings.
 
Washington struck first, capitalizing on a Jackson Hotchkiss double and a Blake Wilson single in back-to-back at bats. Hotchkiss stole home and Wilson scored on a Trevor Kole groundout to put the Huskies up two.
 
UCLA responded in the third inning, scoring two of their own. That would be the end of the Bruins scoring for the day.
 
Banks pitched through the end of the sixth inning, allowing no further damage and finishing with six strikeouts to earn his fourth win of the season. In the top of the sixth, the back half of the lineup delivered again.
 
Braeden Terry earned a walk before Jackson Hotchkiss hit a single up the middle to put two runners on for Blake Wilson. The Husky third baseman tagged a double into left field, bringing home Terry.
 
Then, Trevor Kole logged his second RBI of the game, sending home Jackson Hotchkiss with a sacrifice fly. The Huskies concluded their scoring an inning later when Malakhi Knight used a sacrifice fly to send home Casen Taggart and push the lead to three.
 
Isaac Yeager was lights-out over the final three frames, striking out six of the nine outs he collected. With the performance, Yeager earns his fourth save of the season, the most of any Husky.
 
Washington will look to claim another Big Ten series win on Saturday. First pitch in game two is set for 2 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
 
DAWG BITES

• The Huskies have won six straight games
• Friday’s win over No. 10 UCLA is the highest-ranked win since April 22, 2023 (9-0 vs. No. 9 Stanford)
• Max Banks threw his fifth start of at least 6.0 IP with two or less runs allowed
• Isaac Yeager recorded his team-leading fourth save of the season
• Colton Bower wore his 15^th hit by pitch on Friday, tying him for ninth-most in a single season in program history
• Casen Taggart recorded his 31^st walk of the season, the 39^th-most in the NCAA. He’s averaging 1.12 walks per game, the 13^th best rate in the country