Oregon averaged 12 runs per game in its series with New Mexico State heading into Sunday. It was mainly because of its performance Saturday, when it scored 22 runs– the most since the program was reinstated in 2009. However, the Ducks didn’t score 12 on Sunday. They didn’t even make it into double digits. But a dominant performance from pitcher Jack Karraker gave Oregon more than enough to cruise to a 6-3 win over the Aggies to complete the sweep.
“I thought (Karraker) was really special today,” head coach George Horton said. “It was probably the best outing (from a starter this weekend), as far as executing pitches and being consistent, I thought he did awfully well.”
Karraker set the tone early in his outing, striking out the opening two hitters he faced, which also tied his career-high count in a single game. He raised that mark Sunday with eight strikeouts in seven innings, while allowing just one earned run on five hits.
“I always believe in myself and I think it’s important to believe in what you got,” Karraker said. “I definitely think it was a good outing, I missed a few pitches. But it worked out.”
Oregon took control of the game in the bottom of the second when Nick Catalano doubled in Mark Karaviotis for Oregon’s first run. The double was followed by three consecutive batters reaching base and a sacrifice fly that resulted in a four-run inning.
“I was real impressed how we broke (New Mexico St. starter Billy Conard) down early,” Horton said.
That was enough for Karraker and the back-end of the bullpen to work with.
Oregon’s sweep of New Mexico State improves their record to 7-1, while NMSU falls to 0-8.
“(I’m) very happy with the sweep, (it’s) something to build on,” Horton said.
Key plays:
-NMSU’s Quinnton Mack led off the second inning with a home run to open the scoring.
-In the second Nick Catalano doubled in a run which proved to be the beginning of a four-run inning, where the Ducks took the lead.
-In the top of the seventh Karraker pitched his way through a first-and-third, two-out jam in his final inning to keep the Aggies’ at one run.
Notable Stats:
Jack Karraker: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 8 K, 0 BB
Austin Grebeck: 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Quinnton Mack: 3-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Oregon’s next game will come on Tuesday against Portland at PK Park at 6 p.m.
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @andrewbantly