The Ducks picked up a good team win — their 20th of the season — and capitalized on their chance at revenge.

For the second straight season, Portland (17-9, 3-0 WCC) and No. 20 Oregon (20-7, 6-3 Pac-12) split their season series against one another. After the Pilots downed the Ducks in Eugene in March, Oregon clapped back with a 7-4 midweek win in Portland on Tuesday.

The Ducks — who were recently donned a No. 20 national rank — proved their salt behind Michael Freund’s strong start and their ability to capitalize on the Pilots’ errors. 

Oregon’s offense got going right away. A two-out double from Anson Aroz plated two in the top of the first and brought Aroz’s RBI total to 16. 

Unlike in the 15-5 loss that the Pilots dealt the Ducks back in March, Oregon’s pitching staff looked in control. In what was expected to be a bullpen game, Freund got the nod for Mark Wasikowski’s squad. He had little intention of sharing the mound, however, as he would go six complete innings on 95 pitches (65 for strikes). He earned his third win of the season on Tuesday as he dropped his ERA to 3.63.

He allowed three runs — only two of them earned — on six hits while fanning seven and walking just one. With a three game series against UCLA looming this weekend, a midweek game in which Oregon could limit its pitchers used was a minor blessing. 

Bryce Boettcher singled in a run in the second and scored on a Jeffery Heard RBI single in the fourth as Oregon opened up a 4-2 lead. 

A bizarre top of the sixth that featured two of Portland’s five errors saw three more Oregon runs come across. Aroz brought one in on a sac-fly (RBI No. 17) before the Pilots forced two in with a bases-loaded HBP and a walk. Portland got one back in the bottom of the sixth with a double from Christian Cooney, but Oregon still took a 7-3 lead into the seventh.

That’s where Logan Mercado took over on the mound for the Ducks to pitch a scoreless seventh. Ryan Featherston surrendered a run in the eighth on an RBI groundout from Cooney. Portland’s right fielder finished with two of its three RBIs. 

Bradley Mullan closed out the ninth and earned his third save of the year with a scoreless frame. 

Oregon tallied eight hits in Tuesday’s win with Boettcher and Aroz both recording multiple knocks. The Ducks’ offense left a dozen runners on base and struck out 11 times — Mason Neville tallying four of them — but were good enough to win their 20th game of the season. 

Oregon now leads the all-time series against the Pilots 109-40. The Ducks are 30-12 against the Pilots in Portland and 6-3 in the Wasikowski era. Oregon will stay on the road for a three-game series against the Bruins (10-15, 4-8 Pac-12). First pitch for Friday is slated for 7:05 p.m.