It just keeps piling on for Oregon. In perhaps the Ducks’ worst series of the season, the No. 3 Arizona State Sun Devils swept them by a combined score of 27-2, and clinched their third-straight Pacific-10 title.
Oregon (14-36 overall, 4-20 Pac-10 Conference) was shut out twice in the three games, including an 8-0 loss on Sunday to give the team its longest losing streak of the season at eight games. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils (41-11, 19-5) are riding high, having won eight games in a row.
In Friday’s game the Ducks put up a goose egg, losing 9-0 to the nation’s best pitcher. Sun Devil Mike Leake (13-1) threw a complete game
three-hitter, striking out 12 batters en route to his first ever complete game shutout.
Leake beat out Erik Stavert (5-5), who has now lost his last two starts. Stavert went 2.2 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits, including four walks and a hit batter. Freshman Chris Garrison came in relief and surrendered the final three runs on four hits and five walks.
From the plate, Antony Kreitz, Darrell Hunter and KC Serna each had a hit.
Saturday was only marginally better for Oregon, but the team lost 10-2 to Jordan Swagerty (3-1), who went 6.2 innings while giving up two runs on eight hits. Tyler Anderson (2-8) took the loss, going 4.2 innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits.
Oregon’s pitching staff gave up three home runs in the game, as the Sun Devils jumped out to a 10-0 lead through the first six innings. The Ducks finally broke through with two runs in the top of the seventh, getting an RBI fielder’s choice from Paul Eshleman to score Colby Sokol, then an RBI sacrifice fly from Mitch Karraker to score Eshleman from third.
Eshleman, Kreitz, and Josh Hogan were all 2-for-4 to lead the Ducks.
Sunday’s game went much like Friday’s game did from Oregon’s standpoint. Four errors and four combined hits led to an 8-0 shutout. Seth Blair (6-1) went 7.2 scoreless innings, holding the Ducks to two hits. Oregon starter Madison Boer dropped to 1-8 on the year after lasting just 1.2 innings and giving up five runs.
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