Oregon head coach George Horton said the Ducks did just “enough” offensively to win Thursday night in their home opener. And, well, the same appeared to ring true for the second of Oregon’s four-game series with New Mexico State a day later.
Scoring via a sacrifice fly, a walk, and a steal home, Oregon managed to fend off any response the Aggies had for them as the game continued.
However, a six-run eighth inning capped by a grand slam from Shaun Chase broke the game wide open and the 20th-ranked Ducks (5-1) eased their way to a 11-3 win in front of an attendance of 2,312 at PK Park.
“We just grind out teams,” Chase said. “We got their starting pitcher out by the fifth inning and we went to their bullpen and we just grind out at-bats, grind out innings and I think it’s just been working out for us.”
It was the second consecutive night in which a late surge from the Ducks proved to be the difference. Eight of their 11 runs came in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
“It’s just a mentality that our guys have developed,” head coach George Horton said. “That’s a tribute to the position players to score and extend the lead, and the back end of the bullpen has done a good job to hold the opposition down.”
That was the precise formula Friday night. Up until the eighth inning, Oregon had gone 2-10 with runners in scoring position and had virtually scratched and clawed its pathway through the game. But in that inning, every opportunity was finally taken full advantage of.
The six-run inning included runs batted in from Matt Eureste and Mitchell Tolman, as well as Chase’s home run that cleared the bases.
The shot over the left field fence was the 21st of Chase’s career and moves him to 3rd all-time in program history in that category.
As for the back end of the bullpen, Josh Graham and Joe Reta did not surrender a hit for the final 3.2 innings of the game. Listed as a catcher, Graham entered during the fifth inning of a tie game.
He came in to relieve Oregon freshman David Peterson. Peterson lasted 5.1 innings, yielding three runs, four hits and striking out seven in the process.
After Graham’s arrival though, the offense for New Mexico State (0-6) was nonexistent. Graham faced eight batters, struck out three and did not give up a single hit in his 2.2 innings of work.
“We knew he had that capability,” Horton said. “I thought he was a huge difference maker.”
Noticeably exuberant, Graham spoke after the game about how much of rush he got after pitching for the first time this season at Hawaii. The same type of feeling set in Friday as he and Oregon dominated the Aggies in the game’s latter stages.
Joe Reta then followed suit in the ninth, not allowing a hit and striking out one to conclude the game.
Notable stats:
– Oregon starting pitcher David Peterson: 5.1IP, 4H, 2ER, 7K, 3BB
– Oregon relief pitcher Josh Graham: 2.2 IP, 0 earned runs
– Brandon Cuddy: 0-2, two walks, two runs
– Shaun Chase: 2-5, four RBI’s, grand slam
Injury update:
Steven Packard dislocated his left shoulder Friday. His status moving forward is unknown.
“We just pray that he’s not on the shelf too long. Before he came to Eugene, he dislocated his right one. And then he got it fixed, went on a mission, and now it’s his other one. It’s his throwing arm which isn’t good, so we’ll just keep our fingers crossed,” Horton said.
Up next: Oregon faces New Mexico State Saturday at 2:03 p.m. Right handed pitcher Trent Paddon expects to make the start.
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise