The Oregon Ducks baseball team bounced back from recent disappointing performances in a big way on Sunday afternoon at PK Park.
After losing close games to Illinois and Oklahoma earlier in the Nike College Showcase tournament by scores of 2-1 and 3-2 respectively, Oregon (12-3) took care of the Connecticut Huskies (6-8) by a score of 4-0. Ducks sophomore right-hander Brando Tessar tossed a complete-game shutout, striking out six while giving up just four hits. Perhaps the most impressive part of Tessar’s performance was his holding the Huskies hitless from the second inning to the eighth, retiring 14 straight batters during that span. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=11401&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205396292@@
“After that first inning I got locked in,” Tessar said, “and I wasn’t worried about anything but the next inning. And it just kind of happened.”
Offensively, the Ducks chipped away at Connecticut by stealing bases, implementing the sacrifice bunt and taking advantage of unforced errors. In the first inning second baseman Aaron Payne got on base after being hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a single by Ryon Healy, stole third and scored the game’s first run on a Kyle Garlick groundout. Shortstop J.J. Altobelli added a second run in the third inning after advancing to home on a groundout from Healy. @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=11401&SPSID=94833@@
Oregon center fielder Vernell Warren went 2 for 4 in his first career start at the collegiate level, hitting a double in the seventh and a single in the ninth. @@http://www.goducks.com/downloads2/448870.htm?ATCLID=205396292&SPSID=94831&SPID=11401&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
“Kudos to Vernell Warren, who keeps making everybody smile and raise eyebrows,” Ducks coach George Horton said. “He shouldn’t be doing what he’s doing, but he’s right in the middle of everything that we do and I’m very proud of him for that.”
The Ducks added two insurance runs in the ninth inning, one on a solo home run from pinch hitter Daniel Pardini.
Connecticut sophomore pitcher Anthony Marzi (0-3) continued his struggle this year, giving up nine hits and four runs, although two were unearned. The Huskies threatened to score in the first inning, loading the bases with just one out. But Tessar was able to get out of the jam by getting shortstop Tom Verdi to pop out and then forcing a grounder from Joe Pavone, which led to a runner’s interference call. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=11401&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205396292@@
“My defense was just unbelievable today,” Tessar said. “It’s easy to pitch when you have a defense like that behind you.”
Saturday

The Ducks shut out West Virginia 12-0, but then fell 3-2 to No. 22 Oklahoma in Saturday’s double header.
In the first game of the day, sophomore pitcher Jeff Gold threw a four-hit complete game to lead Oregon (11-3) to an easy win over the Mountaineers (6-9). The coaches agreed to end the game after the eighth inning. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=11401&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205395824@@
Several Ducks had strong offensive performances in support of Gold. Designated hitter Ryan Hambright hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and catcher Aaron Jones added a grand slam in the eighth inning to help drive Oregon’s 15-hit effort.
Gold picked up his third win of the season, and West Virginia pitcher Pen Nakazato was tagged with the loss.
Oregon’s offense wasn’t nearly as potent in the nightcap. Oklahoma (11-4) pitcher Jonathan Gray struck out 10 Ducks and allowed two runs in seven innings to earn his second win of the season, while Ducks starter Jake Reed was tagged with his first loss. Oregon cut a 3-1 deficit to 3-2 with a run in the eighth, but stranded the potential tying run on third base in both the eighth and ninth innings as Oklahoma closer Jordan John earned this third save of the season. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=11401&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205395824@@
Friday: 
Starter Alex Keudell lasted eight innings and gave up just two runs, but Oregon’s bats failed to come through on Friday night in a 2-1 loss to Illinois. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=11401&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205395220@@
The No. 17 Ducks (10-2) managed just four hits against visiting Illinois (5-5) in the opening night of the Nike Showcase, and their only run came in the bottom of the second inning when left fielder Kyle Garlick doubled to deep left field and drove first baseman Ryon Healy across the plate.
The Illini would tie the game on a fielder’s choice groundout in the fourth inning and took the lead for good in the sixth inning when first baseman Jordan Parr tripled to center field. The Ducks would manage just three baserunners over the final four innings and went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to seal the loss.