Huskies reach 13-game win streak after wins over Maryland and North Dakota

SEATTLE — The University of Washington Huskies softball team (23-6) had a strong showing over the last week of competition as they extended themselves to a 13-game winning streak. The Huskies faced Maryland last weekend in a set of three games and North Dakota on Wednesday evening. 

In Friday’s game, Maryland was the first on the board after Anna McGowan hit an RBI double in the opening inning. The Huskies responded in the bottom of the second, with a two-RBI single from Alexis DeBoer that scored Melody Acevedo and Sophi Mazzola. Giselle Alvarez slammed a home run to put the Huskies up 4-1.  

The Terrapins cut into the lead in the third quarter with a home run by Mairah Penta, but the Huskies plowed ahead in the fourth and fifth quarters to add eight onto their score and end the game on the 10-run rule. 

Saturday afternoon, the two teams returned to the field for a game that was stalemated throughout in a pitchers’ duel that ended when Alvarez notched a sacrifice fly to left center field to score Jing Gardner from third for the sole run of the game. Morgan Reimer pitched a complete game for UW, giving up only four Terrapin hits over seven innings.  

Sunday’s competition started off close with both teams going scoreless in the first, but the Terrapins gained the lead in the top of the second as Zayda Rocke slammed out a home run to add two runs. The Huskies evened out the score in the bottom of the inning, as Alvarez and Ally Hetzel hit back-to-back doubles with Hetzel’s extra base hit scoring and a hit later in the inning by Gabi Toney to bring in Hetzel. 

The game quickly fell in favor of UW in the third quarter as Hetzel singled to bring in Jaydyn Glab followed by Ava Carroll, who broke the game open with a three-RBI home run, her third of her junior year.  

Washington came back in the sixth inning to extend the Huskies’ lead with Annika Ticen recording her first hit of the season in her first at-bat of the year, bringing in Marley Teasley and a sacrifice fly from Glab scored Gabi Toney for the final score of the day as Washington held Maryland scoreless in the top of the seventh. 

Against Maryland, the Huskies were led by Glab during the weekend who finished the series batting .625 (5-for-8), slugging 1.125 and tallying five RBI. Hetzel was another leader for the team, batting .571 (4-for-7) with three RBI. 

Kacie Burdick led off for the Huskies for the first time over the weekend, batted .500 with a pair of walks and Ryan Maddox earned her first win as a Husky, throwing 3.2 innings Sunday and giving up one hit with four strikeouts. 

The Huskies remained at home to host North Dakota on Wednesday evening where they once again were dominant on the diamond. UW was dominant right from the start as they held the opposition scoreless in the first two innings and scored five runs. 

Both teams earned no runs in the third inning, but the Huskies immediately stepped back in the fourth and fifth innings and added another three points to the scoreboard, and the game ended in the fifth inning. Nine of UW’s 13 consecutive wins have come in run-rule fashion. 

Alvarez led Washington against North Dakota, scoring four runs batted in, with three hits, a single, double and a home run that marked her ninth of the season. 

The Huskies prepare to go on the road for their next 10 matchups starting with a three-game series against Michigan this weekend playing Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. 

BOX SCORES 

FRIDAY 

MRYL: 1-0-1-0-0: 2 

UW: 0-4-0-5-3: 12 

SATURDAY 

MRYL: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0: 0 

UW: 0-0-0-0-1-0-x: 1 

SUNDAY 

MRYL: 0-2-0-0-0-0-0: 2 

UW: 0-2-4-0-0-2-x: 8 

WEDNESDAY 

NDKT: 0-0-0-0-0: 0 

UW: 3-2-0-1-2: 8 

    Jadyn Glab from the Huskies round third base as she makes her way to home plate over the weekend against Maryland.
  

    UW pitcher Ryan Maddox prepares to hurl a pitch over to the opposing Maryland batter during Sunday’s game.