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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah— David Peterson turned in another stellar performance, while the Ducks’ offense continued their feast-or-famine ways, as Oregon stomped the Utah Utes Friday 11-1 at Smith’s Park.
The junior left hander continued his string of commanding starts, giving up only one run on seven hits— all singles— while striking out eleven without issuing a walk in his eight innings of work. Peterson’s (6-1) eleven strikeouts marks the third time this season he has tallied double-digit K’s in a game. Junior right hander Brac Warren pitched a scoreless ninth inning in a mop-up role.
VIDEO | David Peterson dominates again, striking out 11 without any walks in an 11-1 rout of Utah! #GoDucks https://t.co/3aPlAXHEga
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) April 1, 2017
The Ducks managed to plate their eleven runs with the benefit of only two extra base hits, led by redshirt senior centerfielder Jake Bennett, who went 2-5 with a double, a run scored, and four RBI on the game, and junior first baseman Kyle Kasser, who went 2-4 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI.
Utah (10-13, 1-6) led 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth when the dam burst for the Utes. Utah starter Jayson Rose (3-2) was cruising, when freshman second baseman Morgan McCullough hit a triple to lead off the inning. After a Kasser ground out, redshirt freshman right fielder Braden Stutzman walked, Bennett doubled to drive in McCullough, and the rout was on. Oregon (17-6, 5-2) would send fifteen men to the plate in the inning, driving Rose from the game after five and two-thirds. Reliever Josh Tedeschi was able to stop the bleeding, but the damage had been done; all told, the Ducks scored ten runs on the inning, courtesy of seven hits, two walks, and a hit batter.
VIDEO | The hits keep on comin'! Jake Bennett comes through with a 2-RBI single of his own to make it 10-1. #GoDucks https://t.co/XHUJFt0Ngk
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) April 1, 2017
The series continues Saturday from Smith’s Park, with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 am.
Game notes: Peterson has now struck out 66 batters on the season, while only walking FIVE... his 66 Ks continue to lead the conference, as does his 6 victores... McCullough’s triple gives him three on the season, good for a tie for third place in the PAC-12... Oregon remains in second place overall in the conference, behind only #2-ranked Oregon State.