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Ducks split Fresno State series before ending OSU’s historic 10-game Civil War winning streak

Photo courtesy of goducks.com

Ducks (19-12) take Civil War battle, 12-8, ending OSU’s 10-game head-to-head win streak against Oregon, following series split against Fresno State at PK Park.

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Fresno State

Ducks 2 - Bulldogs 14

  • Where to start? With the bullpen struggling mightily and Oregon’s bats held to just three hits the entire game, the Ducks were out-classed in the series opener against the Bulldogs in Eugene. Freshman right-hander Tyler Frazier’s efforts on the mount were one of the only bright spots in game 1. Frazier allowed only 1 ER and 4 hits with 5 K’s over 5.1 innings of work. In his past two starts, Frazier has allowed just 2 earned runs with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings.
  • Things really fell apart for Oregon in the 6th inning. Errors by left-fielder Tyler Adams and 2B Max Foxcraft brought in two unearned runs before junior Nico Tellache entered the game in relief. 8 total runs were allowed in the 6th inning and 7 combined between Tellache, freshman Keaton Chase and sophomore Peyton Fuller.

Tellache, N. 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K

Chase, K. 0.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K

Fuller, P. 1.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K

  • The only Ducks to record a hit were Foxcraft (1-2, RBI) shortstop Spencer Steer (1-4) and left-fielder Tanner Smith (1-4, RBI).
  • Frazier, T. (L, 0-1) 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K

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Fresno State

Ducks 1 - Bulldogs 5

  • Oregon’s bats struggled to drive in runs once again in game 2 of the Ducks’ home-stand. Left-handed sophomore Robert Ahlstrom was solid on the mound, but the offense wasn’t able to take advantage of their starters strong outing. Ahlstrom only really made two mistakes on the hill giving up a solo homer to third-baseman McCarthy Tatum in the 2nd and another solo shot by first-baseman Zach Presno in the 5th for a 2-0 score.
  • The sticks were cold for a second-straight game. While the Ducks more than doubled their hits from the previous game, Oregon couldn’t get it done with men on base, leaving seven runners stranded. Foxcraft was the only Duck to record an RBI on a bunt in game 2 making it two straight games with an RBI during Oregon’s two-game scoring drought.
  • Seven Ducks did record a hit in their second matchup with the Bulldogs, while sophomore Jonny DeLuca led the team going 2-4 in Friday’s loss.
  • The Ducks’ bullpen struggled after replacing Ahlstrom late in the 8th inning. Junior right-hander Ryne Nelson issued a walk with the bases-loaded bringing in a run. Freshman Jack Noble came in to close-out the 9th inning, to try and give the offense one last chance to make a comeback. However, through no fault of his own, the young right-handed hurler allowed an unearned run on a passed ball advancing Fresno State’s Zach Ashford around home to score.
  • Ahlstrom, R. ( L, 4-4) 7.1 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP

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Fresno State (DH)

Ducks 5 - Bulldogs 3

  • Oregon’s bats found some life in the first game of the double-header against Fresno State. They were able to lead off the scoring for the first time all series in game 3. Steer took one for the team with ducks on the pond and brought in DH Aaron Zavala from third after the hit-by-pitch for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd. Fresno State answered right back with an RBI ground out in the 3rd for a 1-1 tie, but Foxcraft snatched the lead right back with a single past the second baseman driving in Zavala again for a 2-1 lead to close out the 3rd.
  • Sophomore Cullen Kafka put together a quality start to open up Friday’s double-header. The righty only allowed 3 runs in 7.0 IP, striking out a batter per inning. Fresno State was able to tie the game up quick after Oregon took the early lead with an Ashford RBI ground-out. tying the game up at 1-1 a piece in the top of the 3rd inning. The Bulldogs were able to take the lead for the first time in the 5th inning with a 2 RBI double to left by catcher Carter Bins to give Fresno State a 3-2 lead.
  • Oregon responded quickly in the bottom of the 5th much like the Bulldogs did in the 3rd. Right-fielder Tanner Smith singled to right driving in Cameron Campbell for a 3-3 tie. The two-run double in the 5th were the last runs Oregon’s pitching staff would allow the rest of the game.
  • DeLuca would give the Ducks the lead back once again in the 7th with a bases-juiced single to right, knocking in Foxcraft and third-baseman Sam Novitske for a 5-3 final.
  • Nelson came into the game in the 8th to close the door on Fresno State and he did just that, striking-out three Bulldog batters in the final two innings of relief. It was a much better overall game for the Ducks than recently seen. Kafka and Nelson kept Fresno States hitters at bay with only 6 hits and 10 K’s, allowing Oregon’s offense led by Foxcraft (3-5, RBI) and DeLuca (1-4, 2 RBI) to take advantage.
  • Kafka, C. (W, 3-2) 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6, H, 2 BB, 7 K
  • Nelson, R. (S, 2) 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K

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Fresno State (DH)

Ducks 8 - Bulldogs 7

  • Saturday night’s double-header finale was, without a doubt, the most exciting game of the weekend series. Fresno State took an early 3-0 lead putting three runs on the board with a fielders choice and a two-run double in the top of the 1st. Oregon responded with runs in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd innings. First with a Gabe Matthews two-run double to right field scoring Steer and Smith. Then, with a wild-pitch in the 2nd scoring Zavala and a sacrifice bunt by Campbell in the 3rd to bring in sophomore left-fielder Evan Williams for a 4-3 score.
  • Fresno State took the lead back with a pair of runs in the top of the 6th, but DeLuca answered in the bottom of the inning with his first home run of the 2019 campaign. A solo shot to the opposite side of the field tying the game at 5-5.
  • DeLuca tied up the game for a second time in the 8th on a fielders choice, but the Bulldogs hitters continued to be a thorn in the side of Oregon’s pitching staff. Taking the lead back for the second time of the game with a Nate Thimjon single giving Fresno State a 7-6 lead.
  • Matthews, who drove in a couple runs earlier in the game, was clutch once again. With Ducks in scoring position, Matthews hit a walk-off single up the middle scoring Foxcraft and Novitske for the win.
  • Seven different Ducks crossed the plate in the final game of the double-header. Matthews led the Ducks offensively going 3-5 with a double and a career-high 4 RBI’s. Zavala went 2-3 respectably and DeLuca finished the game 1-5 with a HR and 2 RBI’s.
  • Chase, K. (W, 3-0) 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K

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#4 Oregon State

Ducks 12 - Beavers 8

  • The Ducks ended Oregon State’s 10-game win streak in their single-game non-conference Civil War matchup, ending the longest tied win-streak between the teams. Oregon’s bats were hot in the 1st inning scoring five runs on two RBI singles by DeLuca and Campbell and a two-run double off the wall from Zavala. the DH (Zavala) hit his second two-run double of the game in the top of the 3rd to break open Oregon’s three-run 3rd inning.
  • Campbell singled again, this time to the opposite side of the field bringing home Evan Williams for a 7-2 Oregon lead.
  • OSU’s star catcher Adley Rutschman cut the Beaver’s deficit in half with one swing. Rutschman sent a moon shot to right field in the 4th for a three-run homer, clearing the bases and making it an 8-3 contest. With the HR Rutschman went 2-4 totaling 4 RBI’s. The Beavers went as far as tying the game at 8-8 with a three-run 7th inning after stringing a few hits together, giving Ducks fans much cause for concern.
  • Oregon’s top of the order was able to string some hits together of their own and come up big in the 8th. Novitske singled with a man in scoring position, bringing in Campbell from second base.
  • Smith, taking advantage of a passed-ball that put both runners in scoring position, hit a two-run single to push the lead to three.
  • Steer rattled off the third consecutive hit with a single to left field bringing in Smith who advanced to second on a throwing error.
  • Oregon put up a very crooked four-run inning giving junior reliever Ryne Nelson a comfortable 12-8 lead with just 6 outs remaining in the game for OSU. Nelson was lights out in his 2.0 innings of work striking out four batters on 0 hits and 1 walk.
  • Zavala (2-5, 3 RBI) led the cast of Ducks that saw five batters have multi-hit games including Smith (2-5, 2 RBI), Steer (2-5, RBI), Campbell (2-4, 2 RBI) and Williams (2-4). Oregon was 8-11 (.818) with runners in scoring position and forced the Beavers to give up a season-high 12 runs.
  • Tellache, N. (W, 4-1) 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K

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STATE OF THE PAC

#5 Stanford (21-5-0) / Conf. (7-2-0)

#13 Arizona State (26-5-0) / Conf. (9-3-0)

#1 UCLA (24-6-0) / Conf. (9-1-0)

#4 Oregon State (23-7-1) / Conf. (9-3-0)

Oregon (19-12-0) / Conf. (5-4-0)

California (17-11-0) / Conf. (5-4-0)

Washington (15-12-0) / Conf. (5-7-0)

Arizona (17-14-0) / Conf. (5-7-0)

USC (13-18-0) / Conf. (5-7-0)

Utah (8-18-0) / Conf. (1-11-0)

Washington State (7-23-0) / Conf. (0-9-0)

*Rankings determined by Pac-12.com and D1Baseball.com Top 25

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DUCK OF THE WEEK

Spencer Steer

The shortstop earns Duck of the Week honors for extending his hitting streak to 11 games, while being an instrumental part of Oregon’s win of late. Steer went just 6-19 with 2 RBI’s and 3 runs, through the last five games, but He’s batting an impressive .342 through 31 games played and leads the Ducks in not only average, but hits (39) and OB% (.462).

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On Deck:

Washington State (7-23-0)