By Knight Jarecki

It was a beautiful day for baseball Thursday night in Eugene Oregon as the #19 Oregon Ducks defeated the New Mexico State Aggies 5-0. The win on Thursday gives the Ducks their 13th win of the season.

The first 2 and a half innings were filled with many walks but no hits and runs. This trend changed in the bottom of the 3rd inning when Tanner Smith came up to the plate with a runner on first. Smith hit a double into left center field for the first hit of the game and gave the Ducks runners on 2nd and 3rd. Later in the inning Kenyon Yovan roped a ball down the left field line driving in both runners putting the Ducks up 2-0. Gabe Matthews drove in Yovan on a sac fly at the end of the inning giving the Ducks a 3-0 lead after 3 frames.

In the bottom half of the next inning, the Ducks offense went back to work as Tanner Smith hit his second double of the game driving in Josh Kasevich to extend the lead to 4-0 after 4 innings. The Ducks added another run in the bottom of the 8th on a solo shot from Gabe Matthews, his second Home Run of the season, extending the lead to 5.

The pitching for the Ducks was dominant all afternoon. Starter Isaac Ayon had 3 strikeouts in 3 innings pitched. RJ Gordon came in for relief in the 3rd giving up 2 hits and 2 strikeouts in 3 innings pitched. Gordon was credited with the win. Nico Tellache come in for innings 6-8 allowing 1 hit and registering 4 K’s. Rio Britton came in for the 9th inning and closed the door on the Aggies solidifying the Ducks 5-0 victory.

Tanner Smith finished 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI from the leadoff spot. Kenyon Yovan added 1 hit, 1 run, and 2RBI’s.

Oregon improves to 13-6 on the year and will face New Mexico State Friday at 4pm and a double header on Saturday. Oregon is 6-3 at home this season.