On a cloudy and, at times, rainy day at PK Park, the Oregon baseball team scored the most runs in program history since its reinstatement in 2009, beating Ohio State 20-4. In four innings the Ducks scored four or more runs, including a seven-run third inning. This was all backing up Jeff Gold, who made his weekend debut this season since the Ducks have been trying to find a way to fill the hole left by Cole Irvin, who’s out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
“That was one of his sharpest outings and his fastball command was outstanding,” head coach George Horton said.
Gold pitched game one of the doubleheader last Tuesday where, again, his offense gave him great run support. Gold said the short rest didn’t have any effect on his routine and preparation for Sunday’s game. Gold was backed by an offense that, when he left the mound at the end of the eighth inning, scored 20 runs on Sunday.
“It always makes it easy,” Gold said. “It motivates me to get back in there (the dugout) so we can keep putting up numbers.”
Led by third baseman Mitchell Tolman, the Ducks scored the most runs since 1979. Tolman had six RBIs and went 3-for-6 on the day. But the runs just wouldn’t stop for the Ducks. Oregon had three other players with three or more RBIs, one of whom was ninth place hitter Mark Karaviotis.
“That’s a bunch of runs,” Horton said. “Our guys had a pretty good balance in waiting for the right pitch.”
The Buckeyes went through seven pitchers in this game, none of which pitched two innings or more. One of the Buckeyes to throw today was junior Trace Dempsey. Dempsey, a unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection, gave up the grand slam to freshman A.J. Balta in the eighth.
“They had some good arms come in but they didn’t pitch,” Horton said. “Typically the Ohio State bullpen is pretty good.”
In total, the Ducks collected 13 hits with six walks and five hit batsmen on their 20-run afternoon. Jeff Gold pitched so well Saturday that Horton said it’s a “no-brainer” that he’ll get the start next Sunday against USC.
The Ducks took the rubber match of the series, winning their first home series of the year. Oregon was swept in its opening series against Cal State Fullerton last weekend, and winning two out of three from a team like Ohio State is, according to Horton, something Oregon didn’t do last year.
“Last year we didn’t win two out of three against anybody that was significant and (we) ended up being a national eight seed,” Horton said. “So if we’re going to do anything in the (Pac-12) we’ve got to beat a lot of teams that are significant.”
Oregon opens Pac-12 play next weekend against USC starting on Friday, March 14.
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter at @abant3