The No. 22 Oregon Ducks improved their chances of making the postseason with a 2-1 series win over the Washington Huskies over the weekend in Seattle. After dropping the opener on Friday, Oregon (37-19 overall, 12-12 Pacific-10 Conference) responded with two straight wins, and the Huskies finish their home schedule with a 27-26, 11-13 record.
Game one

Washington claimed game one of the series in dramatic fashion.
The Ducks went to the bottom of the ninth inning up 7-5 after scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning. But reliever Scott McGough allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning.
This was followed by a sacrifice bunt attempt by Pierce Rankin, and a throwing error from third baseman J.J. Altobelli allowed the runner from third to score and the other runner to reach safely at third.
A sacrifice fly scored the second runner from third base and moved Rankin up to second. Then a single from Jacob Kwan to right field looked like the winning play, but Andrew Mendenhall threw out the runner at the plate for the third out.
Oregon responded in the top of the 10th inning with a four-run inning, capped by a bases-clearing double by second baseman Danny Pulfer that pushed Oregon’s lead to 11-7. But that lead would soon be erased as Washington responded with four runs of its own off of relievers Christian Jones and Drew Gagnier. The Oregon closer surrendered a two-run double, followed by a two-run home run.
Then Chase Anselment hit his sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the 11th for the 13-12 UW win. Reliever Joey Housey, Oregon’s sixth pitcher of the game, took the loss.
Washington’s 13 runs were the most Oregon had given up to a team this year, and the Huskies’ 20 hits were the most the Ducks have allowed since reinstatement.
Oregon freshman Steven Packard was 3 for 4 with two doubles and a run scored, while KC Serna was 2 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Game two

The Ducks would respond in game two, led by Mendenhall, winning 5-2.
The Kennewick, Wash., native started for just the eighth time this season and was 3 for 4 with two stolen bases and two RBI. Coupled with two earned runs and four strikeouts through six innings from starter Justin LaTempa (5-2), the Ducks held on to even the series.
The scoring started in the top of the first, on a leadoff home run by shortstop KC Serna (his second of the series). The Huskies responded in the second, then again in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead, but Oregon reeled off four unanswered runs starting in the fourth inning.
In relief of LaTempa, sophomore Madison Boer pitched three innings, giving up just one hit.
Geoff Brown (1-6) took the loss for Washington after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks in four innings.
Game three

Oregon clinched the series on Sunday with another 5-2 win. Behind a 7 2/3-inning, five-hit, one-run performance by starter Zack Thornton, the Ducks held the Huskies at bay the entire game.
The game was decided in the top of the fifth when Oregon scored four runs off of Husky starter Andrew Kittredge. The Ducks would add another run in the top of the ninth on an RBI double by Serna.
The win capped Oregon’s first Pac-10 series win since beating Washington State on May 2. Now Oregon has just four games left on its schedule to impress the NCAA selection committee. First up is the team’s last meeting with Oregon State in Portland Wednesday, followed by a home series against California starting Friday at 7 p.m.
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