After two games of roughed up pitching and inferior offense, Oregon had no answer in the 5-2 series finale loss to Mississippi State in Starkville Sunday.
Sophomore David Peterson lasted 5.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned), six hits and four walks, and struck out two. It was the longest outing by an Oregon starter this weekend, but not nearly good enough with the Ducks’ current offensive woes.
In the sixth, Peterson walked lead-off man Ryan Gridley but followed with consecutive outs. With Gridley on third and two outs, Jacob Robson singled on an 0-2 count.
Jacob Bennett relieved Peterson on the mound and quickly found trouble in Brent Rooker, who knocked a two-run home run to left field.
After six innings, the Bulldogs damage was done. They led 5-0.
Two innings later, in the top of the eighth, Oregon scored twice in ways it typically doesn’t. Freshman Travis Moniot led off the inning with his first collegiate home run to left-center. Two outs later, A.J. Balta also went deep to right field.
In the ninth, Mississippi State closer Reid Humphreys sent the Ducks to the airport in 1-2-3 fashion to earn his second save of the season.
After the sweep, Oregon drops to 8-5 on the season with major concerns regarding its offense, which had a series batting average of .196. On the season, the Ducks are hitting .206 as a team.
Oregon will play next on Friday, March 18 against Utah at PK Park to open its conference season.
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Oregon overmatched by Mississippi State in series finale
Andrew Bantly
March 12, 2016
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