Oregon baseball head coach George Horton called this section of the schedule “make-or-break time.” The Ducks had the chance to build on a two-game winning streak and right the ship against a middling USC team.
It didn’t happen.
Oregon (17-16, 2-7 Pacific-10 Conference) dropped two of three games against the Trojans (15-20, 6-6) over the weekend, and heads into busy week on another grim note.
The Ducks entered Sunday’s game with a chance to escape Los Angeles with a series win, but once again struggled to score in a 3-1 loss. Junior starter Alex Keudell had a solid outing, lasting 6 1/3 innings and allowing just one earned run. Yet, hits came few and far between for the Oregon offense, and two runs allowed by senior reliever Kellen Moen in the bottom of the eighth inning were enough to bury the Ducks.
Saturday’s result was far more lopsided as USC ran away with a 9-2 victory. Junior Oregon starter Madison Boer gave up three runs in just 5 2/3 innings, and the relief pitching proved to be anything but as Oregon gave up six more runs in the final three frames. At the plate, meanwhile, the Ducks were flummoxed by USC starter Austin Wood. Junior second baseman Danny Pulfer had an extraordinary five hits in five at-bats, but his efforts proved to be futile in the loss.
Indeed, the only highlight of the weekend came during the series opener on Friday. Junior starter Tyler Anderson was dominant, striking out 10 batters and walking just one in 8 1/3 innings. Though he gave up two runs in the process, none was earned. Pulfer’s two RBI and a home run from freshman Stefan Sabol provided just enough support for the pitching staff, and Moen retired the final two Trojan batters for the save.
Oregon faces a quick turnaround from the USC series, as the team returns to action this afternoon against San Francisco. In all, the Ducks will play five games between Monday and Saturday, including a three-game series against Arizona.
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Oregon baseball’s batting struggles spell downfall in USC series
Daily Emerald
April 17, 2011
Michael Ciaglo
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