Oregon (3-1) scored seven runs in the third inning and cruised to a 12-6 victory over host Hawaii (1-3) on Monday afternoon. @@http://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2012/2/20/BB_0220125842.aspx@@
Duck starting pitcher Jeff Gold (1-0) went five solid innings to earn the win, but Oregon’s offense once again stole the headlines. A day after scoring 14 runs, Oregon teed off on Rainbows starting pitcher Scott Squier, who was pegged with the loss after lasting only 2 2/3 innings, and the rest of Hawaii’s pitching staff to the tune of 17 hits. @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=11401&SPSID=94833@@ @@http://hawaiiathletics.com/custompages/Stats/Bsb/021912.htm@@
After Oregon scored a run in the first on an RBI single by Ryon Healy, the offensive floodgates opened in the third inning. With runners on first and third and one out, Healy hit a two-RBI double. With two outs, Kyle Garlick singled to center field to score Healy and give Oregon a 4-0 lead. The Ducks added additional runs on a steal of home by Garlick, an RBI single by Brett Thomas, and a two-RBI double by J.J. Altobelli.
The Rainbows answered with three runs in the bottom of the third inning to trim Oregon’s lead to 8-3, but the Ducks scored two more in the top of the fourth to again secure a sizable lead.
Oregon relievers Tommy Thorpe, Shaun Chase, Jordan Spencer, and Joey Housey combined to allow two runs over the game’s final four innings to preserve the victory, while Altobelli keyed Oregon’s offense with five hits.
Chase also added a two-run home run in the sixth inning for the Ducks.
Oregon will resume play on Thursday when the Ducks visit Belmont in Nashville, Tenn., before beginning a three-game series with host Vanderbilt on Friday. @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=11401&SPSID=94835@@