By Aiden Hess
EUGENE - Following a home series loss to the UCLA Bruins over the weekend, the Ducks returned to PK Park for a one game midweek matchup with the Niagara Purple Eagles. Unfortunately for Oregon, the chips did not fall in their favor as they were defeated by a score of 8-5 Wednesday afternoon.
The Ducks now find themselves on a three game losing skid as their record fell to 9-6 on the season. The struggles have seemed to come mainly from the mound as Oregon has allowed a combined 32 runs in their previous 3 contests. Turner Spoljaric was given his first start of the season, but proved to take the role of an opener rather than a starter. Spoljaric, a primarily bullpen arm, went 1+ innings allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks. Oregon burned through the majority of their relievers sending eight different arms to piece together nine full innings in a losing effort.
The Ducks were in a hole early in the ballgame trailing 3-0 after two innings, but were able to eclipse the deficit when Oregon shortstop Gavin Grant roped a homerun down the left field line to knot the game back up at three in the fourth. However, Niagara reclaimed the lead scoring two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings and never looked back. Oregon cut the 7-3 lead at the time in half off of four seventh inning singles that produced two runs, but left with a missed opportunity to get back in the game leaving the bases loaded. The Purple Eagles added an insurance run in the eighth and secured the win when pitcher Zach Cameron sat down the Ducks in the ninth to pick up the save and the win for Niagara. Despite the loss, Ducks’ center fielder Colby Shade was a bright spot as he shined in a four hit, four for five day at the dish.
It felt like the Ducks’ pitchers were always one step behind as the inability to get ahead in counts and deliver first pitch strikes hindered their ability to get through innings cleanly. During the three game slide Oregon has walked a combined 24 batters and allowed 10 walks in today’s game.
Next game up for the Ducks is their first road test of the season, as they travel to Pullman, Washington to face the 13-3 Washington State Cougars. Oregon will look to get back in the win column against Wazzu with their first of a three game series beginning on Friday March, 17th at 4:05 PM.