Oregon infielder Gabe Matthews (12) gets a hit off in the first inning. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Oregon infielder Kyle Kasser (1) reaches to high-five Oregon outfielder A.J. Balta (33) after he scored a run. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Oregon infielder Spencer Steer (13) throws the ball back to first base. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Santa Clara infielder Austin Fisher (11) tags out Oregon infielder Spencer Steer (13) before he can slide into second base. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Oregon pitcher Jacob Bennett (32) throws the ball back to the infield. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Oregon infielder Daniel Patzlaff (26) reaches to make a catch. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Oregon pitcher Matt Mercer (11) winds up to throw a pitch. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Head Coach George Horton speaks to Oregon pitcher Jacob Bennett (32) and Oregon infielder Gabe Matthews (12). The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Oregon outfielder A.J. Balta (33) stares down the Santa Clara pitcher as he tries to lead off of first base. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Umpires and staffers from both teams check on an official who was hit by the ball in the middle of the game. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Oregon infielder Kyle Kasser (1) reaches up to catch a fly ball. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Oregon infielder Morgan McCullough (9) reaches to make a catch. The Oregon Ducks play the Santa Clara Broncos in Eugene, Ore. on March 11, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
Adam Eberhardt
With the game tied at five in the eighth inning, Morgan McCullough crossed home plate on a bases loaded walk in to give the Ducks a lead they would not relinquish. The run was just a small part of a big night for the freshman, who paced the Ducks (18-8) …