Stockton, Calif. - With the opening series of the season coming to a close, the Tigers dropped a 12-1 decision to the visiting Huskies as Washington swept the series on Monday, Feb. 16. Pacific (0-4) suffered its first series sweep at home since the 2012 season while Washington (4-0) picked up its first perfect 4-0 start since 1999.

Before the 902 fans at Klein Family Field could settle in for an afternoon of baseball the contest was already seemingly over as the Huskies dented the plate eight times in the first three innings to take control of the game. The big damage came in the top of the second when the Huskies sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs on five hits including a pair from left fielder Will Sparks.

Making matters worse for the Tigers was the fact that they had just missed busting the contest wide open the half inning prior when Pacific was able to load the bases with just one out in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Tigers would come up empty handed when Alex Hardy (1-0) entered the game and proceeded to get two tough outs to keep Pacific scoreless while deflating any momentum the Tigers hoped to pick up. Hardy came in to the contest in relief of Henry Baker who started the game and recorded just one out while walking the bases loaded. 

From there, the Tigers threatened just once more against the Huskies' relief core when they loaded the bases for a second time in the bottom of the seventh. However, Ryan Schmitten was able to pitch out of the trouble and keep Pacific from putting their first run on the board. 

Pacific would finally get on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning when junior Gio Brusa turned an innocuous pop up to third into a run with the help of an error. Running hard out of the box, Brusa came up with the first two bases when the ball found the dirt rather than a Husky glove thanks to a slight breeze and the sun. The ensuing throw to second sailed into right field allowing Brusa to run his way all the way home to break up the would-be shutout.

Offensively, Washington tacked on four more runs after their three-inning stretch to start the game, including posting a pair in the top of the ninth. Braden Bishop led the way with a 3-for-3 effort at the top of the order as the Huskies recorded 17 hits against six Tiger pitchers. Redshirt Freshman Taylor Johnson was the only Tiger pitcher not to give up a run in the game as he pitched a scoreless and hitless seventh and eighth innings of the Pacific. Junior Sean Bennetts (0-1) was tagged with his first Division I loss as he went just 1.0 full inning while giving up six hits and seven runs.

In the contest, freshmen Justin Thaxton and Jed Sprague each recorded their first collegiate knocks as Thaxton slashed a single up the middle in the sixth while Sprague picked up a two-out hit up the middle in the seventh.

The Tigers will go for their first win of 2015 at UNLV on Friday, Feb. 20 when they begin a four-game series against the hot-hitting Rebels. The opening contest is scheduled for 6:05 pm at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.