In a matchup of two conference pitcher of the year award winners, it was Oregon’s bats that led the Ducks to a 7-5 victory over second-seeded Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.  Alex Keudell picked up his 23rd win in an Oregon uniform to become the all-time winningest pitcher in school history. Healso picked up his 11th victory of the season, expanding on his own Oregon record for season wins.
The Ducks exploded out of the gate, scoring four times in the first third of an inning, which combined timely hitting along with a few missteps from the Titans. Fullerton head coach Rich Vanderhook@@http://www.fullertontitans.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/vanderhook_rick00.html@@ said what doomed his team the most was their inability to stop the bleeding after the Ducks hot start.
“You don’t lose baseball games by giving up ones,” Vanderhook said.  “They put up a four.”
The Ducks added runs in the second, fourth and eighth innings en route to the victory.  Fullerton scored all five of their runs in a shaky fifth inning, leading to a scoreline that made the game seem much closer than it really was.
“They dominated us,” Vanderhook said. “In every aspect of the game.”
Oregon head coach George Horton didn’t go quite as far as saying the Ducks dominated the game, pointing to a Duck error and seven free passes issued by their pitchers.
“We still have a lot to do if we’re going to advance,” he said.
With Horton playing against his former team and Fullerton assistant coach and former Oregon assistant Mike Kirby returning to PK Park, there were distractions a plenty, but Horton said the Ducks were able to be mentally present enough to enjoy themselves without getting in their own way.
“We had a good balance and fun and energy and aggression,” he said.
He also said the team and coaching staff changed signs around to prevent each other from getting an advantage, but the Duck’s head coach said that may have backfired for Fullerton.
“They changed their signs around so we wouldn’t know they were doing, but they didn’t know either in the beginning,” he said.
Oregon knocked Titan ace Dylan Floro around to the tune of 10 hits to go along with their own seven runs.  It wasn’t the kind of stuff the Titans have come to expect from Floro, who entered the game with a 10-4 record and an ERA of 2.52.
“I was out of my character,” Floro said.  “It wasn’t my game.”
After Keudeull started the game with seven strong innings, the Ducks gave the ball to Jimmie Sherfy, who gave up just one hit in recording the six-out save.  It was Sherfy’s second consecutive night pitching, but Horton says he has no reservations about having the Stopper Award finalist pitch on a third straight day if Sherfy thinks he can handle it.
Oregon will play the winner of Sunday afternoon’s game between Fullerton and Austin Peay. A win Sunday would send the Ducks to their first Super Regional in program history, while a loss would set up a do-or-die game on Monday evening. Horton said he’d love the opportunity to coach against Fullerton again simply because of his relationship with the team.
“I have no disrespect  for Austin Peay, but I’d like Fullerton to win tomorrow because those are my guys,” he said.