The Ducks came close, but not close enough.
With the tying run 90 feet away and the No. 5 Oregon baseball team trailing 3-2 in the ninth inning, first basaman Ryon Healy hit a ball to left field that nearly landed for a basehit, but No. 23 Oregon State’s Michael Conforto made a reaching catch and rocketed a ball to the plate that just beat Aaron Payne — who was tagging from third.
Game over, series lost.
Oregon took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, just as it did in the first inning on Friday night, only to see Oregon State level the score with a two-run home run in the sixth and take the lead for good in an inning later.
The win clinched the weekend and season series for the Beavers, but more importantly the Ducks lost control of their own destiny in the Pac-12 title race. Oregon is currently tied with Arizona for the Pac-12 lead but the Wildcats can take a one game lead going into the final day of the season with a win over Arizona State tonight. An Arizona loss tonight, however, and the Ducks will take the field on Sunday with a chance to win the Pac-12 crown.
The Ducks will know before the first pitch tomorrow if PK Park will be one of 16 NCAA regional sites, while the remainder of the tournament will be unveiled on Monday.
Oregon baseball drops second straight game to Beavers
Daily Emerald
May 25, 2012
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