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The undefeated Ducks played host to the Portland Pilots for a getaway game Tuesday night at PK Park and Oregon jumped all over Portland from the start. The Ducks scored all 8 runs in the first three innings as they cruised to an 8-2 win.
"We were ready to play tonight. It's very unusual to get that many runs that early. When you get a 6 run inning you feel pretty good, but there's still a lot of innings to play," said coach Horton.
Last season, the Ducks only scored more than 6 runs in 4 games at PK Park. After 2 innings, the Ducks had already eclipsed the 6 run mark, thanks in large part to a 6 run first inning that featured a three run home run from Catcher Shaun Chase.
Chase had not had a hit in three games this season and broke out of the mini slump in style as he took a 3-2 pitch deep over the left field fence.
Oregon batted around in the first inning, setting the stage as they jumped out to a 8-0 lead, scoring in each of the first three frames.
"Look out PK Park, the 2014 Ducks can hit," said Chase after the game and his statement was affirmed by Tyler Baumgartner.
Jeff Gold was effective through 5 innings, his only hiccup coming in the 4th inning when he gave up the Pilots only two runs. In his abbreviated appearance, Gold tallied 7 strike outs which tied a career high for him. The last time he struck out 7 was against the same team last season on February 26, 2013.
Once Gold stepped off the mound, the bull pen stepped in and did not allow a base hit in their four innings of work.
Despite his performance, Gold wasn't what you would call happy with his game, "I have very high standards of myself. An artist is always critical of his own work."
The Ducks move to 8-0 and remain as one of two undefeated teams in the conference as USC is at 7-0. The Beavers hold the top spot in the league due to the one conference game they played against Washington early on.
In short, the Ducks took care of business and beat a team they were supposed to. It's nice for them to get a warm up before Cal State- Fullerton comes to town as Oregon's premier non-conference opponent this weekend.