Chase's Grand Slam Seals Ducks-Wildcats Series

The Ducks played their third and final game of their three-game series against the Arizona Wildcats on Sunday evening.

In a game that had two rain delays in the second inning, — one 4 minute and one 33 minute delay — the Ducks were able to beat Arizona 5-1, sweeping the Wildcats.

In his first Pac-12 weekend start in two years, the Ducks’ pitcher, Brando Tessar, threw seven scoreless innings before being replaced by Jordan Spencer. Tessar started the game with three consecutive outs in both the first and second inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Wildcat’s had men on both second and first base with no outs.

"We had no outs and I kind of told myself that I got to bear down and kind of get it done out there," said Tessar.

He ended the inning with three consecutive strikeouts.

"That was huge, especially three K’s right there, that’s clutch," said Tolman. Tessar ended the game with 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 runs, and 6 strikeouts.

Both teams were scoreless for the majority of the game. However, Mitchell Tolman’s solo homerun came when the Ducks needed it most. Tolman hit a homerun to right field in the sixth inning, making the score 1-0.

But the Ducks weren’t finished. In the eighth inning, Mitchell Tolman was walked and advanced to second after Kyle Garlick hit a single. The Wildcat’s pitcher Cody Moffett, who replaced the Wildcat’s starter Tyger Talley, intentionally walked Steven Packard to load the bases, which wasn’t a very smart move on the Wildcat’s part.

"I was a little surprised. It’s always a shot in the stomach when someone gets intentionally walked in front of you. It means that they want to pitch to you instead of him and so, I was like alright I’m down for that," said Shaun Chase of Talley being walked intentionally before his at bat.

It was a big mistake for the Wildcats. Shaun Chase, the Duck’s best hitter in Pac-12 play so far, hit a grand slam extending Oregon’s lead to 5-0. It’s his third homerun of the weekend and eighth this year.

The Wildcats were able to pull away with one run in the ninth inning, making the end score 5-1.

"It should be fun, exciting, and we’re ready to play," said Tolman about their matchup on Tuesday against OSU.

The Ducks play Oregon State on Tuesday at 6 PM.