Washington baseball lets late lead slip away in 6-5 loss to No. 1 UCLA

The Washington Huskies had a golden opportunity to steal another game from the No. 1 UCLA Bruins, but with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning, it slipped away in a 6-5 loss on Friday night. Coach Eddie Smith's team held a 5-2 lead going into the eighth inning, but after getting two quick outs to start the frame, Jack Wade walked the next three batters before he was removed for Bryce Johnson, who eventually got out of the inning.

However, he allowed a pair of inherited runners to score on a single from left fielder Jarrod Hocking before the Huskies could escape. Then, in the ninth inning, it looked like Johnson was able to seal the victory after getting center fielder Will Gasparino to ground to shortstop with two down, but an error from Sam DeCarlo extended the inning and allowed catcher Cashel Dugger to give the Bruins their first lead of the series with a two-run double. While the Huskies were able to get two runners on in the ninth inning, catcher Ethan Swidler struck out looking to end the contest.

Johnson took the loss and dropped to 0-4 on the year after working 1 1/3 innings and allowing 2 runs (none earned) on 3 hits with a walk and 3 strikeouts on a day where starter Noah Kenney lasted just 3 innings, and let up a hit and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts. OBLITERATED. 402 feet.

106 MPH. 26 degrees. pic.