Oregon baseball sophomore Tyler Jones’ first career hit turned into the decisive run in the Ducks’ midweek battle with Gonzaga University, as Bulldogs’ late-inning comeback bid fell short in their 4-3 loss.

The Ducks’ lineup provided their bullpen, each limited to one inning, a three-run lead in the first, and the late-inning relievers came in clutch to take advantage. The game had massive postseason seeding implications, with Oregon entering ranked No. 26 in RPI and Gonzaga No. 32. Oregon earned the seeding boost courtesy of Jack Brooks’ (2-for-3, 2B, R) and Angel Laya’s (1-for-3, HR, RBI) offense and closer Devin Bell’s stress-free save.

Sophomore Michael Meckna started the bullpen day for the Ducks, and was greeted with a leadoff triple by Ricky Sanchez, which fell out of the reach of center fielder Jack Brooks’ diving effort. Meckna allowed the Bulldogs to take an early 1-0 lead by pulling a fastball past Oregon catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus, bringing Sanchez home.

After Meckna escaped his lone inning of work, Brooks provided the Ducks their own leadoff hit, doubling to left field. Brayden Jaksa made it to second base and Brooks advanced to third on a throwing error, and Maddox Molony very nearly gave the Ducks three runs with his warning track flyout, but settled for a sacrifice fly and a 1-0 lead.

Drew Smith immediately extended the Ducks’ lead with another sacrifice fly, and Angel Laya made it 3-0 by putting a low line drive out of PK Park on the first pitch he saw. Naulivou Lauaki Jr. kept the hit parade going with a hard-hit groundball single, but Mabeus grounded out to end the inning.

Jones kept the Ducks’ offense hot with an opposite-field line drive single to lead off the second, and the top of the order took advantage with Brooks’ single and Jaksa’s walk loading the bases. Maddox Molony came through with Oregon’s third sacrifice fly of the game for a 4-1 lead.

Gonzaga quickly threatened Oregon freshman Cooper Markham’s 6.1 inning scoreless streak to begin his career when he entered in the third inning. Bo Shinkle led off with a single and Sanchez advanced him to third base with a double. Mikey Bell came through with a sacrifice fly to cut the Ducks’ lead to 4-2 before Markhan limited the damage.

From there, three different Oregon pitchers stood off with Gonzaga reliever Mickey McClaskey, who had taken over in the second inning after the Ducks scored their fourth run. Oregon never got to McClaskey in his 4.2 innings, with the right-hander striking out five batters and surrendering just a hit and a walk.

It took just two pitches for Gonzaga left fielder Noah Meffort to snap the Oregon bullpen’s streak of scoreless innings in the seventh.. After fouling off Ducks lefty Toby Twist’s first-pitch fastball, Meffort stayed on an offspeed pitch high in the zone, hitting it for an opposite-field home run to cut Oregon’s lead to 4-3.

After Oregon stranded Owen Morgan on third base in the bottom of the inning, the top of Gonzaga’s order strung together a threat in the eighth. Leadoff hitter Sanchez drew a walk from Oregon reliever Tanner Bradley and quickly advanced to third on a single by Mikey Bell. Designated hitter Maddox Haley loaded the bases with a ten-pitch walk, but Bradley struck out back-to-back Bulldogs to escape the inning.

Oregon closer Devin Bell retired the Bulldogs in order for his tenth save of the season, moving up to second in the Big Ten.

The Ducks travel north to Seattle for a weekend series against Washington, with first pitch on Friday scheduled for 7:05 p.m.