The Oregon baseball team was one of the best fielding squads in the Pacific-10 Conference coming into Thursday’s series opener of a four-game set with the University of Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Nev., with a .977 success rate on defensive chances.
But a season-high five errors cost the Ducks dearly on their way to a 6-5 loss to Nevada (5-8) in front of 490 at Peccole Park, the final gaffe an error charged to freshman third baseman John Adamson on a hard grounder off the bat of Wolf Pack freshman catcher Michel Turay with men on second and third and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to score the go-ahead run.
Oregon (6-7) attempted to rally in the visitors’ half of the ninth, as senior outfielder Caleb Tommasini singled and advanced to second on junior outfielder Curtis Raulinaitis single. Junior catcher Eddy Rodriguez hit into a double play, advancing Tommasini to third.
Sophomore Mitch Karraker drew a walk, then pinch-hitting freshman Paul Eshleman grounded out to third to end the threat.
The Ducks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on Karraker’s two-run double in the top of the first inning. Nevada starter Stephan Bautista was bounced from the game in just 1.1 innings, surrendering three runs on four hits while hitting two batters.
Freshman lefty Tyler Anderson went five innings for Oregon, allowing three runs on six hits while walking four and striking out three.
Oregon and Nevada meet for game two of the series Friday, 1 p.m., with no television; radio broadcast on 590 AM (KUGN).
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