The losing streak is finally over.
The Oregon baseball team (35-18) defeated the Portland Pilots (31-17) 4-2 Tuesday night, to end a four-game losing streak to the Pilots that extended back to last year. Led by two-hit performances from KC Serna, Shawn Peterson and Steven Packard, Oregon continued its hot-hitting ways.
Reliever Christian Jones earned the win for the Ducks, going 3 1/3 innings after starter Madison Boer was taken out with one out in the fifth inning. Jones gave up one run on three hits.
The scoring started in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Pilots got the leadoff man on base, and with two outs, Boer gave up a triple to Riley Henricks. Boer, who gave up five hits and one run in his time on the mound, walked the first batter of the fifth inning and hit a batter before Jones came in.
After the Pilots scored in the bottom of the fourth, the Ducks responded with three runs over the next two innings. In the top of the fifth, designated hitter Paul Eshleman hit a 1-0 pitch off Portland starter Keeler Brynteson over the fence to tie the game at one. Then in the top of the sixth, pinch hitter Curtis Raulinaitis was hit by a pitch, which Serna followed with a single. Second baseman Danny Pulfer bunted, but Raulinaitis was thrown out at third, so there was one out with runners on first and second.
Then Pac-10 Player of the Week Eddie Rodriguez stepped up yet again, singling to left field to score Serna and advance Pulfer to third. And in a bizarre turn of events, Rodriguez stole second, but a throwing error by the pitcher allowed him to advance to third, and Pulfer stole home.
The Pilots responded with one run in the bottom of the sixth off Jones on an RBI single, but the Ducks would once again add a run in the top of the seventh. Peterson singled for his second hit of the game, and on a bunt by third baseman J.J. Altobelli that the catcher threw wide of second base, Peterson ended up on third on an additional throwing error by the shortstop.
Oregon continued to play small ball, as left fielder Marcus Piazzisi laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Peterson from third for the 4-2 lead.
Reliever Scott McGough pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the Ducks, holding the Pilots scoreless, as the Ducks avenged a 3-1 loss to Portland earlier in the season. For the Pilots, Henricks led the team at the plate, going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Next up for the Ducks, who are currently on a five-game winning streak after losing four straight two weeks ago, is a three-game series with the Washington Huskies in Seattle starting Friday night.
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