If Oregon can hit like this during conference play, the Ducks could have a shot at earning back-to-back Pac-12 Championships.
The Ducks (9-3) jumped all over Grand Canyon University (6-7) and overcame and early deficit to earn a resounding 13-5 win and cap off the midweek sweep.
Justin Cassella sent a home run out to left on the first pitch of Wednesday’s game. Just like in Tuesday’s 9-5 win, Oregon had an early lead that was quickly spoiled.
Zach Yorke homered in the bottom of the 1st. His two-run shot gave the Lopes a lead that would hold until Ryan Cooney’s third blast of the season tied the game in the 2nd. The homer parade continued in the 3rd as Tyler Wilson hit a two-run shot of his own to give GCU a 4-2 lead after three innings.
Jacob Walsh — who hit a two-run home run in Tuesday’s game — responded in the 4th with another two-run shot. He’s now fourth all-time in Oregon history in homers.
Tuesday’s game featured five home runs. Wednesday’s contest featured five through the first four innings and six overall — Mason Neville’s two-run shot in the 6th serving as the final blast.
From the 4th inning on, it was all Oregon. A barrage of hits — 13 singles, four doubles and four bombs — had Ducks flying all over the basepaths as run after run came home to score.
Cassella had a tremendous 4-4 day with four RBIs. He’s worked primarily out of the leadoff spot this season, and looks incredibly comfortable — and effective — in it. Cassella finished a triple short of the cycle on Wednesday.
Chase Meggers got the start behind the plate for Oregon as Bennett Thompson got the afternoon off. Meggers broke-out a 4-5 day with pair runs.
Anson Aroz, Carter Garate and Walsh also tallied three-hit afternoons. In a day without usual-starters Thompson and Bryce Boettcher, Oregon never missed a beat. The Ducks’ had their first game with 20 or more hits since smacking an even 20 against Washington on May 23 of 2023. The only Oregon-starter to not record a hit on Wednesday was Drew Smith.
It was a combined effort on the mound for the Ducks on Wednesday. Collin Clarke made his first start of the season and went three full innings while allowing four runs on seven hits. Ian Umlandt took over in the 4th and threw four-straight 1-2-3 innings. Umlandt picked up the well-deserved win for an outing in which he retired all 12 of the dozen batters he faced.
Cole Stokes came in to pitch the 8th. He allowed three-straight baserunners to reach to open the frame. The Lopes would tally a run in the frame, but the Ducks’ lead was more than safe after yet another Oregon offensive onslaught. Stokes finished off the 9th with a 1-2-3 inning, sealing Oregon’s ninth win of the year.
It’s hard to credit just one pitcher with a loss in a game as lopsided as Wednesday’s was, but the Lopes’ David Case was tagged with it. GCU also had a pitcher-by-committee afternoon. Five Lopes contributed full innings of work in the loss. Case did surrender the lead for the final time during his 3.0 innings of work to earn his first loss of the season.
The Ducks now hold a 2-1 all-time record against Grand Canyon University.
Oregon will stay in Arizona this upcoming weekend as it opens Pac-12 play against Arizona State (6-6) for a three-game series. The first game is slated for Friday at 5:35 pm.
