This time, Oregon didn’t need any help from Brigham Young University to ensure a victory.
Though the Ducks (8-7) capitalized on an array of Cougar mistakes and sloppy play to capture the first two games of the three-game set, they secured a series sweep with a dominant 10-0 victory Sunday.
Starter Christian Jones pitched seven brilliant innings of shutout baseball, striking out a career-high 13 batters, and Oregon’s offense broke out with a six-run sixth inning in the win.
“It was a complete game,” Oregon head coach George Horton said. “We played great defense, the pitching staff once again pounded the strike zone, and we finally got some offense, so I’m real happy.”
Oregon’s offense touched up BYU starter Mark Anderson early and often. The Ducks scored single runs in the first and third innings before chasing Anderson with a two-run fourth.
Ahead 4-0, Oregon blew the game open with a six-run sixth inning. Ryon Healy scored the first run of the inning on a balk by BYU pitcher Desmond Poulson. A few batters later, after Oregon loaded the bases, Duck shortstop KC Serna laced a bases-clearing double into left-center field to score three runs. Jack Marder and Healy knocked in single runs later in the inning before BYU (8-7) finally recorded the third out.
“It was good to see all the bats come alive today, and not just a few of us but a lot of us,” Serna said.
Indeed, Oregon received contributions from numerous players. Serna and Marder both had three RBI, and Healy and infielder Shawn Peterson added two hits apiece. Several other players reached base multiple times.
“Hitting is contagious,” Horton said.
As Oregon’s offense awoke from its slumber, Jones ensured that BYU’s batters stayed dormant. A lefty, Jones baffled the Cougars with an array of well-located fastballs and devastating sliders.
Jones improved to 2-1 and lowered his ERA to 4.21.
“Surprisingly, for the first time in my life, everything was working,” Jones said. “It was probably the first time I could throw a pitch anytime. It was a nice surprise.”
Jones departed after seven innings with Oregon up 10 runs, allowing Horton to insert a pair of lesser-used relievers into the game. Brando Tessar pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Jeff Gold pitched a scoreless ninth to end the game.
Saturday
The Ducks clinched a series win with a 4-2 win over the Cougars Saturday.
With the game tied at one heading into the bottom of the eighth, Oregon took advantage of several BYU miscues to score three times and gain a 4-1 lead.
Oregon freshman Aaron Payne reached third base on an error by BYU left fielder Ryan Bernal and later scored on a passed ball to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead. A few batters later, fellow freshman Aaron Jones knocked in two insurance runs with a two-out single to right field.
Four runs were sufficient support to back starter Madison Boer and a pair of Duck relievers. Boer delivered his fourth straight quality start, pitching 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball before being relieved by Joey Housey, who closed out the eighth inning.
Housey ran into trouble in the ninth, surrendering consecutive singles with two-outs before letting in a run with a wild pitch. With Oregon’s lead cut to 4-2, Porter Clayton was summoned from the bullpen to get the game’s final out.
Despite his struggles, Housey was credited with his first win of the year, while Clayton picked up his first save.
The Ducks scored their first run in the fourth inning on an RBI double by J.J. Altobelli and held a 1-0 lead until the eighth inning when Cougars’ catcher Alex Wolfe hit an RBI single to right.
Oregon returns to action next Saturday when the team travels to San Diego for a three-game series against the Toreros.
[email protected]