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Baseball avoids season sweep by Beavers, drops final series to California
There's no doubt the Beavers have had Oregon's number all season, but on Tuesday the Ducks managed to top Oregon State for the first time this year in the season's final matchup between the in-state rivals. The Ducks used a big seventh inning to clinch the win, scoring five runs, including a three-run home run from Shaun Chase who has been a big source of power at the plate for Oregon. The win extended Oregon's win streak to five games.
In Thursday's series opener against Cal, Tommy Thorpe tossed his first career complete game for the first time in his career as the Ducks won their sixth straight game with a 5-1 victory over Cal. Thorpe allowed one run on six hits with eight strikeouts and just one walk on the night. Oregon delivered all the support Thorpe needed in the fifth inning with four runs scored.
Oregon's win streak would be snapped the next night however as Cal took the second game of the series 6-0. Kyle Porter tossed eight strong innings for Cal, allowing just two hits with eight strikeouts and two walks. It took until the sixth inning for the Ducks to get their first hit. Had Oregon come out on top, Jeff Gold likely would have earned his 24th career win, which would have put him alone at the top of Oregon's all-time wins list for pitchers.
On Saturday night, the Ducks found themselves in a hole early as Cal sent seven batters to the plate, scoring four runs on four hits to take control quickly. The Bears added another in the fifth to lead 5-0. Oregon responded back as Nick Catalano delivered an RBI double to get the Ducks on the board. Oregon added two more runs with a pair of RBI singles from Mark Karaviotis and Aaron Payne, but were unable to muster any more as they dropped their second game in a row to end the regular season.
Oregon now awaits to find out their postseason fate. Regional sites will be announced Sunday night with the full NCAA field being announced on Monday.
Men's golf finishes first round of NCAA Championships at 4-over
Despite dealing with over eight hours of delays, the Ducks wrapped up the first round of play at the NCAA Championships at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas with a team score of 284 (+4), tied for 17th in the field of 30 teams. Zach Foushee led Oregon, shooting 2-under in the round to tie for 15th individually.
Oregon will be starting bright and early at 7:50 a.m. local time on the 10th tee box and will play with South Carolina and Southern Methodist. At the end of the first round, the Gamecocks lead the field with a team score of 272 (-8), holding a one stroke lead over Oklahoma.
Softball run-rules No. 16 Minnesota in Game 1 of Super Regional
The Ducks came one step closer to punching their ticket to the Women's College World Series on Saturday night, defeating the No. 16 Minnesota Golden Gophers 10-2 before a record crowd of 1,954 at Howe Field. Minnesota had jumped to an early 1-0 lead, but Oregon bounced back for four runs in the second inning and three more in the third to take a commanding 7-1 lead. Cheridan Hawkins went the distance for the Ducks, allowing two runs on just three hits over six innings with three walks and two strikeouts. Minnesota starter Sara Moulton lasted just three innings giving up eight runs (only four of them earned) on eight hits with one walk issued and no strikeouts. The Gophers struggled defensively, committing four errors on the night.
Oregon will try to clinch a trip to Oklahoma City tomorrow afternoon with first pitch of Game 2 scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PT. If necessary, a decisive Game 3 will take place following the day's first game.