The No. 10 Oregon baseball team kept up its torrid pace in the Pac-12 over the weekend, claiming two of three games over No. 11 Arizona and maintaining its hold on the top spot in the conference standings. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=11401&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205424363@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&KEY=&SPID=11401&SPSID=94835@@ @@http://www.pac-12.org/SPORTS/Baseball/Standings.aspx@@
Sunday’s rubber match was a come-from-behind affair, as the Ducks (34-14, 16-8 Pac-12) scored three runs over the final three frames to claim a 3-1 victory. Through the first six innings, Oregon was held scoreless by Arizona starter James Farris, while the Wildcats (30-15, 13-8 Pac-12) managed their only run of the game on a solo home run by designated hitter Bobby Brown in the fifth inning.
With Farris still pitching in the top of the seventh, the Ducks finally pushed through on an RBI single from right fielder Kyle Garlick — just the third hit of the game for Oregon. An inning later, after the Wildcats were blanked at the plate, Oregon struck once again when Aaron Jones knocked in the team’s second run on a single. Jones, who leads the team with 33 RBI, was left stranded that inning, but the Ducks would plate one more run on a Brett Hambright single in the ninth, and it was more than enough for closer Jimmie Sherfy to notch his fourth save of the year.
Sunday’s series-clinching victory made up in part for a poor performance on Saturday. The Ducks saw their six-game winning streak come to an end as Arizona exploded for 12 runs — nine of which coming against starter Jake Reed. In what would eventually go down as a 12-6 loss, Oregon gave up 15 hits to more than offset what was otherwise a solid day offensively. The Wildcats’ six-run frame in the second set the tone early, and though the Ducks cut the margin to 6-5 in the top of the third, Arizona simply refused to let up on its home field. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=11401&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205424181@@
Reed was finally removed in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the relievers couldn’t quite stop the bleeding, as Joey Housey and David Wylie combined to give up three additional runs in the last four innings to make the deficit insurmountable. Eight of Oregon’s starters had at least one hit in the game — with left fielder Brett Thomas registering his first career home run — but it wasn’t nearly enough to make up for Arizona’s offensive outburst.
Friday’s series opener ended on a much more positive note, as starter Alex Keudell (8-3) continued his stellar senior season with a complete-game effort in a 6-1 victory. Keudell, who is now 7-0 in his last seven starts with a minuscule 0.95 ERA, tied a career high with seven strikeouts and allowed just a single run on seven hits against the Wildcats. The Ducks jumped ahead early with three runs in the first three innings, and it was more than enough for Keudell to work with. Arizona managed its only run of the game in the seventh with a double followed by an RBI single, but by then Oregon held a 5-1 lead and would add another insurance score in the top of the ninth.
For the game, Oregon totaled 13 hits — three of which coming from leadoff man Aaron Payne, who ended up 3 for 4 with three RBI. First baseman Ryon Healy and catcher Brett Hambright also added two hits apiece as Oregon handed Wildcat starter Kurt Heyer just his second loss of the season.
Oregon, which is now 12-4 against ranked opponents, returns to action Tuesday at PK Park for the season’s second Civil War matchup against Oregon State.