In its first Pac-12 matchup of the year, the Oregon baseball team (12-4) will host USC (9-6) for a weekend series starting Friday, March 14. While USC does not appear to be tough competition compared to other Pac-12 schools according to the Pac-12 Coaches Poll, Oregon will see one of the best pitchers of the year so far.
Oregon head coach George Horton said the USC starting rotation is a “solid three” on Wednesday. @@name checked@@
With the beginning of Pac-12 play, Horton says he likes where the team is, though he’d rather be undefeated. But with the beginning of conference play, Oregon expects each and every series to be tough and competitive.
“That’s what makes the league so intriguing,” Horton said. “You better be ready to compete each and every weekend.”
Senior Bob Wheatley (2-0) will be the Saturday starter for the Trojans and, through 25.2 innings, holds a 0.35 ERA. Wheatley has shown great command at times in his career, allowing just one walk in six of his starts last year and allowing none in starts against Washington State (6.0 innings pitched), Oregon St. (6.0 IP), and Utah (2.0 IP). Wheatley will be matched up against Oregon’s Matt Krook, who has been struggling with his command. @@two names checked@@
Horton refers to Krook’s struggles as the “Krook equation,” which he is still trying to figure out. Krook only allowed one run in his 5.1 innings, to go along with 10 strikeouts, last weekend against Ohio St. However, he walked six batters. Horton talked about how his pitch calling might need to change to call the better pitch, instead of the swing-and-miss pitch.
Tommy Thorpe bounced back last weekend against Ohio State. He pitched seven scoreless innings on two hits and struck out a career-high ten batters. Of the weekend starters this season, Thorpe is the only one that started against the Trojans last season. @@name checked@@
Thorpe will be matched up against junior Wyatt Strahan. Strahan (0-2) has struggled this season so far with a 4.74 ERA and has given up six extra base hits in his 24.2 innings pitched. But Strahan has shown dominance this past year, having the lowest ERA last season for the Trojans (2.45 ERA) in 13 appearances (12 starts).@@name checked@@
On Sunday, the Trojans will give the ball to sophomore Kyle Twomey (0-1). Last year, as a true freshman, Twomey started 13 games and led the Trojans with 50 strikeouts. Though Twomey finished 2-8 with a 5.55 ERA. @@name checked@@
It was a “no-brainer” for Horton to choose Jeff Gold (4-0) to stay as the Sunday starter for the USC series. His last outing came on Sunday against Ohio State when he pitched eight innings with a career-high eight strikeouts. With a 2.52 ERA, the redshirt senior leads the nation in wins. The total is the same amount of wins he possessed after the entire 2013 season. Gold is a strike-thrower who commands four different pitches. At the rate Gold has been pitching, this season could be the best of his career. @@name checked@@
“I think he’s passed almost every single test thrown his way in his five-year, four years of playing,” Horton said about Gold.
The Trojans offense is led by seniors Kevin Swick and Jake Hernandez. Both seniors are hitting .400 or above so far on the season and combine for nine doubles. Junior Garrett Stubbs and sophomore AJ Ramirez are also hitting well so far this season, batting .309 and .341, respectively. Freshman Frankie Rios has taken over at shortstop due to the injury to Blake Lacey and despite hitting just .182 so far, he is a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts. @@four names checked@@
Noteworthy:
– On Wednesday, Horton talked about how the catching position is still up in the air. However, Jack Kruger did impress Horton in the Friday and Saturday games defensively. Josh Graham played Sunday against Ohio State, going 2-for-5 with three runs scored.@@two names checked@@ “The players will indicate who deserves the playing time the way they perform in practice and when they get their opportunities in the game,” Horton said.
– Scott Heineman’s status for the USC series is still undetermined, Horton said on Wednesday. Heineman hasn’t played since Feb. 23 against LMU. Horton did say that Heineman is “doing more and more each day.” @@name checked@@
– Horton was happy with the two wins last weekend against Ohio State, saying they were “probably the most spectacular two games since I’ve been here as far as quality at-bats.” Between the Friday and Saturday games against Ohio State the Ducks scored 28 runs.
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @abant3