Huskies Play For College World Series Berth UW Scores Early, Beats Top-Seeded, Georgia Tech At Regionals

Washington is just one win away from its first College World Series appearance after an 8-4 victory over top-seeded Georgia Tech at the NCAA Mideast Regional on Saturday.

The Huskies (46-18), who are 15-1 in May, remained undefeated after three games in the Mideast Regional and earned a spot in today’s championship round.

“We came in here looking to win four games, then three, then two and now one. We’re almost there,” said outfielder Chris Magruder, who led off the game with a walk and a stolen base before giving Washington the lead for good on Ryan Soules’ RBI single.

About 13 hours earlier, Soules hit an RBI double to cap a four-run rally in the ninth inning as Washington defeated host and second-seeded Mississippi State 5-4 in the last of three Mideast games on Friday.

Washington jumped to an 8-0 lead Saturday before Georgia Tech (46-14) got all of its runs in the seventh inning.

“We made some mistakes early that really hurt us,” said Tech coach Danny Hall, whose team has been to just one World Series in 12 straight NCAA appearances prior to this year. “We made a run at them late, but just couldn’t close the gap on them.”

Georgia Tech faced another elimination game today against Mississippi State, a 25-5 winner over Tennessee Tech in an elimination game that was delayed by rain for 3-1/2 hours. The Yellow Jackets had been scheduled to play again Saturday night before tournament officials revised the schedule.

Washington struck for five unearned runs in the third on three hits, three stolen bases off backup catcher Todd Papetti and a two-out error by third baseman Heath Honeycutt.

With two outs in the third, Ryan Lentz delivered a RBI double. Darin Nakagawa reached and Lentz scored on Honeycutt’s second error in the inning, before Ryan Bundy and Magruder added RBI singles for a 7-0 lead.

Papetti was in the game because Eric McQueen, Tech’s only scholarship catcher, separated his shoulder in a collision at the plate with Jamie Porter in the second inning.

Washington starter Matt Hampton (7-1) worked seven innings for the victory, allowing four runs, just one earned. Cody Norrison worked two shutout innings for the Huskies.

Georgia Tech starter David Elder (9-4), among the school’s leaders with 28 career victories, fell to 0-4 in NCAA regional starts after giving up eight runs on 10 hits over seven innings.

Washington 8, Georgia Tech 4

Washington 205 001 000 - 8 11 1

Georgia Tech 000 000 400 - 4 12 5

Hampton, Norrison (8) and Bundy. Elder, Young (8), McGill (8), Crowder (9) and McQueen, Papetti (2). W-Hampton, 7-1. L-Elder, 9-4.