by Austin Ota

EUGENE, OR - For the fourth time this weekend, the Oregon baseball team sent the visiting University of San Diego Toreros with a new loss on their schedule, as they finished the series with a 5-1 victory.

Freshmen Matthew Grabmann and Austin Anderson combined for five innings of one-run ball before a rain delay-turned snow delay forced Anderson to exit abruptly. The trio of Freshmen Dylan McShane and Ian Umlandt, as well as veteran Matt Dallas, held the Toreros scoreless through the seventh. Ending the day on the bump, Ducks closer Josh Mollerus pitched a nearly flawless eighth and ninth, even with the game not being a true save situation.

Head Coach Mark Wasikowski has continued to mention the different combinatorics he has at his lineup disposal, yet he featured the same nine as the game prior. One name he praised was sophomore backup catcher Bennett Thompson, whose steady presence and leadership behind the plate has garnered positive reviews throughout his career.

On the offensive end, the Ducks continued to hit. The offense was sparked by solo shots from Colby Shade and Gavin Grant (each of their second of the year) and a two out, two run knock from Drew Cowley. But symbolically, the most important blast of the day came off the wooden bat of second baseman Rikuu Nishida. The Mt. Hood CC hadn't homered in over 600 collegiate at bats, but was able to poke one over the left field fence. Nishida was treated like a king as he paraded into the dugout, and will look to stay strong as the Ducks' second place hitter.

Oregon will be home next weekend to face off against the UCLA Bruins in a three game set to start conference play.