On Friday, Oregon scored four runs early, but then lost control. On Saturday, a seven-run second inning for the Ducks propelled them to a 15-4 win over USC in Los Angeles, California.
The first three Ducks in the second inning all reached base on two hits and an error by Trojan starter Kyle Twomey, who lasted just 1.2 innings allowing seven runs (two earned).
Later Nick Catalano hit a base-clearing double to right center, one of two Oregon doubles in the inning.
After Phil Craig-St. Louis got hit by the pitch and Scott Heineman walked, the bases were again loaded for Austin Grebeck.
Grebeck, on a 2-2 count, singled up the middle to score Catalano and Craig-St. Louis.
Mark Karaviotis, who led off the inning, doubled to score two more runs and force Twomey out of the game.
Oregon added another run in the third on a two-out, RBI-single from Mitchell Tolman.
Freshman starting pitcher David Peterson managed the Ducks’ early 8-0 lead through the fifth inning in his outing.
Oregon made it 9-0 in the sixth when Heineman singled home Tolman.
In the bottom half, though, USC was good for two runs on four singles.
If it hadn’t been felt already, in eighth inning Oregon threw its knock-out punch.
On four singles and two walks, the first six Ducks ran all around the bases, nearly. Five of those six batters touched every base (including home) in the eighth. Tim Susnera was left on base to end the five-run inning.
In total, Oregon collected 17 hits, 15 runs and only one error against the Trojans on Saturday.
Peterson (3-5) picked up the win in his 6.1 IP of work. He allowed 3 runs, 0 walks and struck out 8 batters on 79 pitches (56 strikes).
The rubber-match of the series is on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @andrewbantly