Oregon Baseball Drops Series Opener to Vanderbilt, 4-1

Ed Note: I forgot to press record after the game when talking to Horton + players. I am a moron. Sincerely, Will.

Tonight's match up between the #2 Vanderbilt Commodores figured to be quite a pitching duel between Oregon ace – and 2012 Freshman All-American – Jake Reed, and 2011 Freshman All-American Kevin Ziomek.

For all but the top of the second inning, both pitchers put on a show for the 2266 fans at PK Park Friday night, but Vanderbilt was able to turn an 0-2 count with two outs into three runs on RBI hits from second baseman Tony Kemp and left fielder Jack Lupo.

That lead was more than enough for Ziomek, who threw a complete game two-hitter, striking out 13 Ducks in the process.

Oregon was able to touch Ziomek for only the single run, a moonshot of a home run to left field by first baseman Ryon Healy. The Ducks only had runners in scoring position twice, and had a runner on third for all of one at-bat.

Healy and Ziomek previously played summer league baseball together, and while Healy certainly had more firsthand experience with the Vanderbilt ace, he didn't spend much time reviewing his knowledge with the rest of the team.

Healy's home run briefly energized the stadium but it would be the last hit Oregon got off of Ziomek the rest of the night, the only threats being two hard-hit balls by shortstop J.J. Altobelli that landed safely with the center fielder.

Reed was able to settle in after his disaster of a second inning, and at one point retired 13 Commodores in a row, but the Ducks weren't able to back him with any further run support. Brett Thomas reached second with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth, but was unable to advance any further.

The Ducks will look to even the series tomorrow afternoon at 2 P.M. when sophomore lefty Tommy Thorpe tries to extend his torrid start to the season.