Freshman Jordan Spencer threw a no-hitter for the Ducks Wednesday night in a 3-0 win over Portland at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205416016@@
Spencer was a fifth-inning hit batsman and a Ryon Healy error in the eighth away from perfection as Oregon won its fourth midweek nonconference game in a row after they were swept by Texas State back in March. @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=11401&SPSID=94835@@
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Portland’s Jeff Melby lined out to Aaron Payne to close out the game.
It’s the first no-hit performance by an Oregon pitcher since the program was reinstated in 2009.  The Ducks most recently flirted with a no-hitter when Jeff Gold, Brando Tessar and Joey Housey combined for 6 2/3 no-hit innings last week against San Francisco. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=11401&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205411644@@
The freshman from Beaverton was making just his third start of the season and had spread 12 2/3 innings of work over five mostly relief appearances for the Ducks before George Horton handed him the ball Wednesday night.
Spencer told The Register-Guard that his simplest pitches — the combination of his fastball and changeup — were the keys to his success.
“It really kept them off-balance,” he said.
He also credited his teammates for their solid defensive play and Horton for calling a strong game.
“I couldn’t ask for more from my teammates or Coach Horton,” Spencer told The Register-Guard.
Oregon’s offense had no trouble getting on base thanks to 10 Duck hits and two Portland errors, but Oregon was able to plate just three runs after leaving six men on base.
Kevin Shepherd made Portland starting pitcher Kody Watts pay for three mistakes in the third inning to give the Ducks the lead. Shepherd reached base when he was hit by a pitch, took second and third on a throwing error by Watts, and scored on a wild pitch.
Oregon doubled their lead later in the inning when Healy singled home Connor Hofmann for his 27th RBI of the year, moving within one of Aaron Jones’ team-leading 28. @@http://www.pac-12.org/portals/7/images/baseball/stats/2011-12/HTML/ore.htm@@
The Ducks added an insurance run in the fifth, once again taking advantage of a wild pitch from a Portland pitcher.
Horton’s Ducks return to Pac-12 play tomorrow evening for the first of a three game series with Washington State. @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=11401&SPSID=94835@@