Baseball Recap: Ducks Offense AWOL, Shutout by Loyola-Marymount 4-0

EUGENE, Oregon— In what’s beginning to sound like a broken record, the Oregon Offense was nowhere to be found Wednesday, as the Ducks were shutout for the second straight game, this time at the hands of WCC stalwart Loyola-Marymount University 4-0.

Oregon (26-22), now losers of seven straight, was behind 3-0 before the crowds’ seats were even warm. The LMU Lions (34-16) managed to plate three runs in the top of the first, courtesy of three straight singles and a costly throwing error by Ducks’ freshman second baseman Morgan McCullough. Freshman right hander James Acuna (1-1) got the start for the Ducks, and clearly was without his best stuff, lasting only an inning-and-a-third, while giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits with two strikeouts. He also hit a batter and uncorked a wild pitch in his brief time on the mound. A septet of pitchers relieved Acuna and held the Lions in check, allowing only one additional one on three hits while striking out five and walking four.

Lions starter Giuseppi Benedetti (4-0) kept the Oregon bats quiet, tossing five shutout innings, allowing only five hits while striking out two and walking one. Relievers Codie Paiva and Braydon Salzman completed the shutout, combining to pitch two-hit ball over the final four innings in a non-save role.

Oregon’s offense scuffled all game, managing only seven hits— six of which were singles— while striking out seven times as a team and leaving—you guessed it— seven base runners stranded. Freshmen first baseman Gabe Matthew and second baseman Morgan McCullough, along with junior shortstop Kyle Kasser, each had two hits for the game, but couldn’t break through for any runs, as the Ducks finished the game scoring two or fewer runs for the sixteenth time this season.

The Ducks travel to LaLa Land Friday for a three-game series with the USC Trojans. First pitch from Dedeaux Field is scheduled for 7:00 pm, and the entire series will be carried on TV by the PAC-12 Network.