SEATTLE, Wash. --- UC Irvine baseball stumbled to open its series against Washington, 5-1, in a rain-soaked Husky Ballpark.

WATER WAIT
The start to the series opener couldn't begin until an hour and 30 minutes after its posted start time of 6:05 p.m. due to rain pushing the start to 7:30 p.m. The rain hung around for first pitch, but stayed away until the final inning in an otherwise cold evening.

HUSKY HUSTLE
The game kicked off, and Washington (6-2) made the first move getting a leadoff single, stolen base, and an error on a bunt attempt set up Preston Viltz who wrapped a double into right field to score the first run.

Starter Trenton Denholm stood tall holding the Huskies in the first with bases loaded, but the Huskies regrouped and added to their lead in the second. A walk and bloop single set the wheels in motion as Viltz reappeared and slashed another double, this time scoring a pair, to make it 3-0, UW.

DIAMOND DUEL
The starters found their rhythm through the middle innings as Denholm and UW starter Stevie Emanuels went pitch-for-pitch to strike out 17 hitters between them, and keep the offenses silent.

Denholm left after five innings victimized by walks as his pitch count rose to 100. Emanuels wriggled out a minimal trouble like a fifth inning where Mike Peabody doubled and advanced on a wild pitch to start the frame, but was left to fend for himself at third base eventually tagged out trying to score on a wild pitch that didn't stray far from catcher Michael Petrie.

RAY OF SUNSHINE
UC Irvine (4-5) had its chance to draw even in the sixth after Luke Spillane's leadoff single knocked out Emanuels. The offense went to work loading the bases on a walk and a hit batsman leading to another pitching change. That Husky walked his first hitter to force home the run and make it a 3-1, UW lead. Peabody had a chance for more, but was unsuccessful striking out to leave the bases loaded.

Washington responded quickly by adding runs in the seventh and eighth innings to leave no doubt and take the opener of the series.

FINAL SCORE: WASHINGTON 5, UC IRVINE 1
The scattered Anteater offense saw a two-hit game from Josh Sheck, Jake Palmer had his team-leading eighth RBI and reached twice along with Taishi Nakawake, and Luke Spillane scored the Anteater run from his hit.

The Huskies got big nights from Viltz going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a walk, Braiden Ward who had three hits and scored twice, and Michael Petrie at the bottom of the order reached all four times with a double, two walks, two runs, and was hit by a pitch.

The pitching lines saw Emanuels for Washington improve to 2-1 scattering seven hits with nine strikeouts while allowing the lone run. Denholm dropped to 1-2 from four hits and four walks, but did strikeout a season-high eight.

SOGGY SATURDAY
The teams match up once again Saturday, February 29, with a 2:05 p.m. first pitch. The weather could move start times around, but fans are encouraged to follow along at ucirvinesports.com and on UCI baseball social media for updates.