Written by Olivia Arciniega
On a cold, rainy Sunday, Oregon hosted the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos for the last game of a three game series. After falling in the first two games by scores of 6-1 and 7-3, Oregon would bounce back to salvage a game in the series, defeating the Gauchos 16-9.
The game started off just as a reflection of the past two – not great for the Ducks. Oregon (7-3) starter Kevin Seitter led a strong first inning, with three strikeouts and just one walk from Gaucho (5-5) catcher Brendan Durfee. He struck Justin Trimble out looking to put a quick end to the top of the first. On the opposing end, Ryan Gallagher walked Justin Cassella, Jeffery Heard and Bennett Thompson to load the bases with two outs. Unfortunately for Oregon, Anson Aroz fouled a ball high behind home plate, and Durfee caught it to end the first inning with a score of 0-0.
In the second, UCSB was able to capitalize off of Kevin Seitter. A single by Letrey McCollum was sandwiched by walks from Nick Oakley and Jonah Sebring loaded the bases with no outs. Immediately after, Cory Nunez hit a grand slam to left field, his first of the season, putting the Gauchos up 4-0 early against Oregon. Luckily for the Ducks, the Gauchos weren’t able to put up any more points after a groundout by Oakley.
Things were quiet for the next few innings for the Ducks. Gallagher was out on the mound to start off the bottom of the second, and Bryce Boettcher was the first to capitalize off of him this inning, hitting a double with only one out, but Carter Garate and Cassella would be retired quietly to end the inning. Oregon brought in Ryan Featherston to pitch, ending Seitter’s day with two innings pitched, four hits, four earned runs, and four strikeouts. Mendez hit an RBI double to send McCollum home putting UCSB up 5-0. With an out at first and pop up to center, the top of the third was over.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth when the Ducks’ offense began to go to work. With Cassella and Cooney on base, Mason Neville knocked one out of PK Park to bring the Ducks closer to the Gauchos, with a score of 5-3. The score remained stagnant until the bottom of the sixth, where the Ducks arguably played their best inning this year.
After a walk by Neville, UCSB took out pitcher Reed Moring for Cole Tryba. The Ducks had eight free passes after, leading to four pitching changes in the inning. Aroz and Chase Meggers both had RBI hits. In a blink of an eye, the Ducks were up 13-5, with Oregon scoring its most runs in an inning since March 29, 2022.
Oregon would tack on three more runs off spotty Gaucho pitching before giving up four in the ninth. Transfer Michael Freund stranded the bases loaded to cement Oregon’s victory.
Oregon will head to Phoenix to play Grand Canyon University on Tuesday and Wednesday before continuing its trip through Arizona to play the Arizona State Sun Devils to begin Pac-12 play.