Oregon and Oregon State have both struggled through sub-par seasons this spring, and each team is making a late effort to sneak into the postseason.
The Ducks helped their cause Sunday afternoon with a 6-3 win over the Beavers in Corvallis to clinch their first series win at Goss Stadium since 1981. The victory improved Oregon’s conference record to 11-12 and allowed the Ducks to keep pace in a five-team log-jam in the middle of the Pac-12 standings.
“We probably kept our season alive,” Oregon head coach George Horton told reporters after the game. “The last nail is not in the coffin.”
Oregon starter Matt Mercer picked up his second win of the year in as many starts. The freshman right-hander tossed six innings and struck out three while surrendering three runs. Brac Warren and Cole Stringer each pitched scoreless portions of the seventh inning before Duck closer Stephen Nogosek came in to pick up a two-inning save.
A.J. Balta and Steven Packard each drove home runs in the fourth inning to get the Ducks on the board first. In the fifth, Carson Breshears reached on a fielders choice, stole second and then advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring on Austin Grebeck’s sac-bunt.
Oregon tacked on two more runs in the sixth, and the Beavers answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the frame, including a two-run home run by K.J. Harrison.
Balta went 2-for-4 with a double and a homer, and Tim Susnara went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Ducks. Six different Beavers picked up one hit, and Logan Ice went 1-for-2 with two walks.
The Ducks now sit in fifth place in the conference standings and share that spot with Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA and USC.
Oregon made four errors in a 6-3 loss to Oregon State Saturday after winning game one of the series 7-4 Friday.
Oregon will play a non-conference game with Portland State at PK Park on Tuesday before hosting Arizona (32-17, 15-11) in its final home conference series starting Friday, May 20.
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