Whenever a team can score in every single inning after the opening frame, their chances to win are pretty good. When they score 22 runs, it’s nearly a guarantee. That’s exactly what the Ducks did Saturday against New Mexico State.
For the third game in a row, the Aggies scored first. But, like the first two games, New Mexico State soon lost control. Oregon came from behind and won 22-7 to clinch the series.
This is the most runs Oregon has scored since its reinstatement in 2009 and the second most since 1974 when they scored 23.
“That’s not a scoreboard you’ll see at PK Park very often because it’s such a tough park to, not only get a one in, get crooked numbers,” Oregon head coach George Horton said.
The game began in a mutually painful way. Oregon starter Trent Paddon drilled the first three hitters he faced to load the bases. He then walked in a run and surrendered another on a sacrifice fly. However, two runs is all the Aggies could muster in the opening frame.
The hit batters never wavered, though. In total, four batters from both teams were nailed.
“Yea we tied it up,” Horton said. “I told the guys after we hit three in the first we were behind, then we drew closer. I wouldn’t say today’s game was extremely well-pitched by either side.”
In the second, Brandon Cuddy’s lead-off walk manufactured a run on a Phil Craig-St. Louis double to right-center. Oregon only scored one run in the inning, but they never looked back offensively, scoring in every inning that followed. This included 14 runs within the fourth, fifth and sixth inning.
“I thought we were awfully consistent,” Horton said. “What good offenses do, and we are a good offense, is take advantage of the walks and free bases.”
Oregon took control of the game in the fourth inning. With the infield shifted towards home plate to protect against a squeeze bunt, Nick Catalano did exactly that. His bunt, which went towards the pitcher, scored Josh Graham from third and Austin Grebeck from second, who was stealing third on the pitch.
The Ducks’ biggest blow came in the sixth inning where they scored seven runs on four hits and one error.
“I definitely think our offensive is one of the deepest in the nation,” Eureste said. “I think we did the little things right today – move runners over, had unselfish at-bats.”
The Aggies chipped away at Oregon’s massive lead scoring five combined runs in the sixth and seventh. Yet, the deficit was too great for a comeback.
Of the six runs Aggies’ starting pitcher Trey Higginbotham surrendered, only two were earned in result of four errors his defense allowed behind him. In total, New Mexico St. committed six errors costing them 12 unearned runs.
After a rough first inning, Paddon settled into a groove over the following four innings, allowing just one runner to reach base.
“We picked Paddon up,” Horton said. “I think he was still holding on to his last start and trying to hard. He settled in pretty good… Good news is he was able to turn it around.”
In the sixth, though, he allowed the first three batters to load the bases. An RBI single later,  Paddon’s day was over. He went 5.0+ innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits. His outing earned him his first win of the year.
Notable plays:
-Trent Paddon put the first four Aggies on base via three hit batters and one walk, leading to a two-run inning to begin the game.
-Phil Craig-St. Louis doubled to right-center on the first pitch he saw to score Brandon Cuddy from first to score the first Oregon run.
-Nick Catalano dropped a squeeze bunt down to score two runs and give Oregon a 4-2 lead.
-In the fourth inning Mitchell Tolman collected his 90th career RBI on a sacrifice fly putting him tied for fourth all-time with Tom Dodd (1977-79).
Key statistics:
-Trent Paddon: 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 5 Ki
-Trey Higginbotham: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 6 R (2 ER), 2 K
-New Mexico St. suffered 12 unearned runs behind six errors in the game.
-Matt Eureste:4-6, 5 RBI, 3 R
-Austin Grebeck: 4-6, 5 RBI, 3 R
-Phil Craig-St. Louis: 2-2, 3 RBI
The series final begins Sunday at 12 p.m. at PK Park.
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @andrewbantly