Tag: Brett Walker

Ducks fall as Bruins salvage the series finale in extra innings

UCLA’s JT Schwartz’s two-run blast in the 10th inning was just enough to hold off the Ducks for the 7-6 win in the weekend finale.

A sweep would have been nice, but the Oregon Ducks baseball team will have to settle for a 2-of-3 series win over UCLA.

The entire series went back and forth with Oregon claiming the first two games. But UCLA’s two runs in the 10th inning was just enough to hold off the Ducks for the 7-6 win in the weekend finale.

Even with the loss, Oregon is now tied with Oregon State on top of the Pac-12 standings as both teams hold a 10-5 record. The Ducks are now 24-9 overall as they look to host San Jose State for a short two-game set this week.

As with the first two games with the Bruins, the series wrap-up contest was a close one throughout. Oregon held a 2-1 lead going into the sixth inning when JT Schwartz hit a Brett Walker offering out over the rightfield fence into the Duck bullpen for the 3-2 lead.

Gavin Grant gave Oregon the lead right back with a single to center and it was the Ducks who were ahead 4-3. Tanner Smith later singled home Grant for the 5-3 advantage.

It was an advantage that didn’t last long, however.

UCLA scored one in the seventh and then tied the game when Matt McLain belted a solo homer center, a section of PK Park that doesn’t see the ball fly over the wall often.

The score stayed knotted up at 5-5 until Schwartz hammered his second home run of the day, a two-run shot to left-center. UCLA held a 7-5 lead, but the Duck, to their credit, didn’t go quietly into the night.

After Josh Kasevich lined out to begin the frame, Gabe Matthews doubled down the left-field line. Sam Novitske struck out for the second out, but Nick Bellafronto kept the game going with an infield hit. Tristan Hanoian drove in Matthews with a bunt single to make it 7-6. Unfortunately for the Ducks, Tanner Smith’s grounder to second ended the game.

With the conference season halfway finished, the Ducks are in prime position to possibly win the Pac-12. Oregon has already gone through the toughest part of its schedule. The remaining teams have a combined conference record of 27-45. Only Stanford has a winning Pac-12 mark of 8-4 and that three-game series will be at PK Park later in the year.

After the mid-week series with San Jose State, the Ducks will travel to Pullman to take on Washington State. Currently, the Cougars are 6-11 in Pac-12 play, but they have a winning record of 18-15.

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Oregon baseball goes for the sweep after defeating UCLA in extra innings

Sam Novitske’s single gave Oregon the 3-2 extra-inning win over UCLA at PK Park Saturday.

In what Winnie the Pooh would consider a blustery day, the Oregon Ducks baseball team had to go 10 innings to defeat UCLA for the second straight game.

Both Oregon and the Bruins had their chances to score throughout the day, but it was Sam Novitske’s single to left that scored Bryce Boettcher for the victory.

With the win, Oregon goes to 24-8 overall and 10-4 in conference play. The Ducks also moved ahead of Oregon State for first place, a half-game ahead of the Beavers, who aren’t playing conference games this weekend.

Kenyon Yovan got the 10th inning started the right way with a solid single to right. Boettcher replaced the Duck’s power hitter on the bases and moved up to second on an errant pick-off play. With first now open, Aaron Zavala was intentionally walked.

Josh Kasevich hit into a fielder’s choice, putting runners on the corners with one out. Gabe Matthews also received the intention pass as UCLA wanted to put a force on every base, hoping to wiggle out of the jam. But Novitske was able to rip a 2-0 pitch to left for the win.

Wiggling out of jams seemed to be the theme of the day for both teams. Oregon managed to get themselves in a major pickle in the top of the ninth as the Bruins managed to have runners on second and third with no out.

Duck pitcher Andrew Mosiello struck out Michael Curialle for the first out. Then the fireworks began.

Noah Cardenas grounded to Kasevich at shortstop, who processed to throw home, getting Mikey Perez in a run down. Catcher Jack Scanlon ran Perez back to third where UCLA had to runners at third base. Jack Filby, who was on second, was the runner that was out, but in the confusion, Bruins third base coach Rex Peters put his hands on Scanlon. This sent Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski bursting out of the dugout demanding what was going on.

After order was restored, Mosiello whiffed Kyle Karros to end the inning.

Kolby Somers, who earned his seventh save in the series opener, came on to pitch a perfect 10th inning and was credited with the win.

Oregon will go for the series sweep Sunday afternoon with Brett Walker (4-1, 3.53 ERA) on the mound where he will go up against Jesse Bergin (4-2, 4.29 ERA) for a noon start time at PK Park.

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