Oregon head coach George Horton has said repeatedly that his struggling Ducks have been looking for “a spark” at the plate.
The Ducks picked up a 10-1 win over the University of Portland Pilots Wednesday evening to end a three-game skid. Although a non-conference victory may not bust the Ducks entirely out of a month-long slump in which they have gone 4-9, it is a step in the right direction.
Oregon got on the board early with a three-run first inning that was highlighted by A.J. Balta’s RBI single. Balta, as well as several other Oregon regulars, returned to the Ducks’ lineup after sitting out the previous two games. Balta was batting .164 entering the day but finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBI.
“Balta has been struggling a little bit, but it’s not his swing,” Oregon catcher Tim Susnara said. “You hear a lot of people talking to you and kind of have to pick and choose what’s going to be a benefit to you. I think today he said ‘I’m going to be myself today.’”
“During batting practice he was just launching balls. He was just being himself: relaxed and having fun, and I think that showed in the game.”
The Ducks busted the game open in the seventh when they scored two runs on back-to-back bases-loaded walks, followed by a pinch hit grand slam to left field by Steven Packard.
Oregon’s 10 runs were the most the team has scored since March 4.
In a game that served as a glorified bullpen session for the Ducks’ pitching staff, eight Oregon pitchers saw the mound. Freshman lefty Kyle Robeniol started for the Ducks and struck out a career-best five batters in two innings. Robe ill surrendered the Pilots’ lone run, a solo shot by Portland right fielder Grant Sutton.
Oregon Saturday-starter Matt Krook threw the eighth inning and struck out a batter, while surrendering one hit. Krook did not pitch last weekend; Oregon’s Saturday and Sunday games were canceled due to weather.
Most importantly for the Ducks, they picked up some much-needed momentum going into a critical weekend series, in which they will face No. 9 California. The question now for Oregon is are they ready to compete with the Bears, who currently sit atop the Pac-12.
“We certainly hope so,” Horton said. “Cal is playing awfully well. We need to get back on the winning track in the Pac-12. Hopefully this is the start of something that we can sustain.”
Horton said that Oregon starting pitcher David Peterson threw a bullpen Wednesday morning and will be Oregon’s Sunday starter if his Friday bullpen goes well. Peterson missed his last start due to illness and did not travel with the team for Oregon’s last road trip due to an undisclosed injury.
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