The Husky baseball squad had a rough weekend in its first home series at the Husky Ballpark, dropping the series against UC Irvine 2-1.

The Huskies (2-8) struggled to get their bats going all weekend, as the Anteaters (12-4-1) outscored them 25-6 in the series.

“We’re just struggling terribly offensively to get hits and to hit with runners in scoring position,” said coach Ken Knutson. “Obviously today it was magnified because we didn’t have any hits until the ninth inning.”

The first game, which started at noon on Saturday due to a rain out on Friday, featured a pitching battle between sophomore Jorden Merry (2-1) and UCI sophomore Scott Gorgen (2-1). Merry (2-1) earned the win as he threw seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while throwing seven strikeouts.

After designated hitter Ty Rasmussen hit his second homer of the season, coach Ken Knutson put junior Nick Hagadone (0-1) on the mound. Hagadone held onto the lead to give the UW their second win of the season.

“Merry was outstanding,” Knutson said. “It was super pitching. In college baseball you don’t see a lot of shutouts, especially in this park.”

In the second game, which started late in the afternoon and lasted into the evening, nothing seemed to go Washington’s way. The Anteaters scored six runs in the second inning and cruised to a 17-3 win over the Huskies.

Sophomore pitcher Nick Haughian (0-2) picked up the loss. Five Husky players saw their first college baseball action on Saturday — including junior pitcher Johnny DuRocher, who pitched the eighth and ninth innings. DuRocher played quarterback on the football team in the fall before having a brain tumor surgically removed in November.

On Sunday, the Huskies suffered another tough loss as they fell 6-3.

The Anteaters had a no-hitter going into the bottom of the ninth with their All-American closer Blair Erickson on the mound. With one man on, junior Andy Lentz broke up the no-hitter with a triple to right field.

“It’s the second time in my career actually, I broke up Cal Poly two years ago, down there,” Lentz said. “I just go up there with the intent of we’re not going to get a no-hit.”

The Huskies made an attempt at a comeback, scoring another run in the inning before Erickson regained his composure and closed the door on the comeback.

Sitting at 499 wins, the team could earn Knutson his 500th career win against Southern Utah (2-11) on Monday or Tuesday.

Reach reporter James Schleicher at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.