BSB STORY | Ducks Win Rubber Match vs. Cal

Audio story by Max Ragel, written story by Ryan Oppenheimer

EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon Ducks’ complete team effort propelled them to a 10-3 win over the California Golden Bears Sunday at PK Park. The Ducks secured a 2-1 series victory, winning two straight by a combined score of 15-4 after losing 13-1 Friday.

Led by Jacob Walsh, the Ducks’ offense jumped on Cal starter Tom Mayer early. Walsh drove home four of the Ducks’ 10 runs, including a two-run homer in the first inning. He also added a fourth-inning double before scoring on an Anson Aroz double. In what would be a four-run eighth inning, Walsh and Aroz teamed up a second time with towering back-to-back jacks before Ryan Cooney added a homer of his own.

Quinnipiac transfer Kevin Seitter got the start for Oregon, as he usually does on Sundays. He delivered, striking out six in five innings of action while allowing four hits and a walk. His one earned run came in the third inning when his wild pitch allowed Jarren Advincula to score from third, but he made up for it by executing a perfect pickoff of Rodney Green Jr. later in the inning. Seitter was awarded his second win of the season.

The defense behind Seitter made some spectacular plays, including a third-inning Bryce-Boettcher-esque home run robbery by Justin Cassella in center field. In the fifth, the young middle infield duo of Cooney and Drew Smith made back-to-back highlight stops.

The Ducks’ bullpen had a comfortable lead to work with most of the game. Bradley Mullan relieved Seitter and put up a zero in the sixth. Up 6-1, Michael Freund allowed a two-out, two-run triple to Green Jr. in the seventh to cut Oregon’s lead to three, but Logan Mercado made sure the Bears wouldn’t make the game any closer. He pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth en route to his third save of the year.

With the win, Oregon improves to 12-5 (4-2 PAC-12) while Cal drops to 12-5 (4-2 PAC-12). The Ducks will stay at home through next weekend when they face the Arizona Wildcats (7-10, 2-3 PAC-12).

BSB Story | The Ducks Flew Past the Bears Today Thanks to a 2 HR Inning

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Written and Audio Stories by Wilder Lewis

The Ducks took on the Cal Golden Bears again at home today in sunny Eugene. Oregon, after getting battered yesterday by a score of 13-1, looked to get back on the winning track and even up the series at one apiece going into Sunday. Both teams got off to a slow start however as it was scoreless through the first 2 innings. Grinsell started on the mound for the Ducks, and with his team-leading 18 strikeouts, he looked to lock up the Golden Bears as much as possible. Grinsell took the Ducks through 6 innings, setting a new season high, and recorded 9 strikeouts while only giving up 1 run and 1 hit.

Oregon was able to build some momentum off of Grinsell as they got walked around in the 3rd to bring home one. Then, in the 4th the Ducks exploded for a big four-run inning that was jump-started by freshman Ryan Cooney who launched a 2 run HR down the left field line. Oregon wasn’t done in the inning though as after Carter Garate was able to get on base, Justin Cassella walked up and launched another one over the backstop in center field to add another 2 runs to Oregon’s lead.

Oregon however after this wouldn’t have any more offensive presence as pitching was the name of the game in the latter half of today. Cal reliever Christian Becerra would shut Oregon down after he came in at the start of the 5th. Becerra would throw 4 innings recording 7 K’s and only giving up 1 hit. Although Cal wouldn’t be able to respond on offense as Oregon stood right there with Becerra with Grinsell and Bradley Mullan. Mullan would relieve Grinsell in the 7th pitching for just 2 innings but recording 3 K’s 

The Ducks got out of the game after a couple of runners in the 9th, but a great double play picked up by Cooney finished things off. Oregon will face off against Cal again tomorrow for the rubber match game in the series.