This hasn’t happened all season long.
For the second straight day, the Oregon baseball team struggled to score runs and UCLA was able to take the weekend series with a 4-3 win.
With the loss, the Ducks moved out of first place in the Pac-12 as they fall to 7-4 in league action and 18-9 overall. The defeat gives the Ducks their first league series loss and it’s the first time Oregon has a two-game losing steak since March 5th and 6th as UC Santa Barbara took the final two games of that series.
Arizona now sits on top of the Pac-12 standings with an 8-3 mark. The Bruins improved to 18-8 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
Last night it was Jake Brooks that held down the Oregon offense and today it was Max Rajcic, who allowed just two runs on four hits and struck out six.
Oregon took the early 2-0 lead on Anthony Hall’s two-run home run in the second inning, but UCLA scored one in the third and three more in the fifth off starter Isaac Ayon.
The Ducks were able to put a mild scare into the Bruins in the ninth with some two-out lightning. Josh Kasevich and Hall each singled with Novitske continuing the rally with a run-scoring single to make it 4-3.
That was enough for Bruins coach John Savage who proceeded to bring in Austin Kelly and the former Sunday starter struck out Josiah Cromwick to earn his first save of the season.
Now the Ducks have to hope they can salvage one game down in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon. Oregon has yet to name a starting pitcher, but whomever it is, they will go against UCLA’s Thatcher Hurd (2-0, 1.07 ERA).
Game 3 of the weekend set is scheduled for 12 p.m. and can be streamed on Pac-12 Insider.