By Jonah Rosenberg

The Oregon Ducks (3-4) defeated the Nevada Wolfpack (0-6) by a score of 9-1 at home on Sunday. Robert Ahlstrom started his second game of the season for the Ducks and recorded his first win following 6 innings of work allowing 4 hits and 0 runs. Gabe Matthews went 2-4 with 3 RBIs and freshman Jack Scanlon matched his season total with 3 hits on the game and also finished with his first career home run.

The Ducks came out ready to play in the first inning sending three Wolfpack batters down in quick succession. In the bottom frame, OF Tanner Smith hit a deep fly ball downfield the third base line and got it to drop just inside the white line for a double. Following a Nevada balk, Kenyon Yovan brought the run home in a fielder’s choice groundout to the shortstop. Ducks lead 1-0 after the first.

After Nevada landed their first two batters on base with singles up the middle, Robert Ahlstrom retired the next three in order to bring the Ducks back up to hit. The third batter of the inning, freshman Jack Scanlon, hit a moonshot landing on the roof of the training center for his first career home run. The deep bomb also brought home Aaron Zavala who reached base on an error. Oregon took their 3-0 lead into the third inning. 

In the fifth inning, Gavin Grant made it all the way around the base paths following his single up the middle. Grant advanced to second and third after a Novitske single and a wild pitch respectively. Tanner Smith brought the run home with his sacrifice fly ball to deep center. The Ducks were unable to get anything else going in the fifth and ended the inning with a 4-0 lead. 

While neither team was able to get anything going in the 6th, in the bottom of the 7th the Ducks were able to capitalize off of a poor performance from the Nevada bullpen. The bottom of the inning didn’t start too well for the Ducks when Gavin Grant grounded into a double play, but following that, Nevada pitcher Jake Fenn walked 3 consecutive batters to load the bases. After yet another Nevada pitching change, Gabe Matthews took the first pitch to deep center field for a 3 RBI double. Ducks lead 7-0 after the bottom of the 7th.

To the delight of Coach Wasikowski, the 8th inning went almost as well as the 7th. The Ducks were able to load the bases off of a walk, single, and a hit-by-pitch before a Novitske single and a Tanner Smith grounder brought 1 home apiece. Oregon’s patience at the plate helped them capitalize off of many Nevada mistakes throughout the game. Although Christian Ciuffetelli conceded a run in the top of the 9th, he was ultimately able to seal the game for the Ducks. At the end of day, the Oregon Ducks defeated the Nevada Wolfpack by a score of 9-1 to complete the first season sweep of the series. Oregon’s next matchup will be next Friday at home against Milwaukee.

Audio Story and Interviews

Robert Ahlstrom

Jack Scanlon