Written story by Isaac Dubey
Audio story by Cuinn Huber
EUGENE, Ore. – No. 20 Oregon Ducks (37-16, 17-11 Pac-12) came from behind in the bottom of the eighth inning to catapult themselves to an 8-4 win in the second game of the series against Washington State (21-32, 9-19 Pac-12) at PK Park on Saturday. Being down three runs to start the inning, the Ducks accumulated seven runs and cycled through four Cougar pitchers in the inning.
Center fielder Bryce Boettcher, who had a three-run home run to cap off the scoring eruption, said the mentality in the dugout was to “get the next guy out of the bullpen,” and “the more arms you see the better chances you have for the next day.”
Oregon struggled to get batters on base the majority of the night, but pitcher Grayson Grinsell (7-2) kept the Cougars in check with 11 strikeouts and only allowed two runs in the first six innings.
Head coach Mark Wasikowski said Grinsell did some “tinkering” on his slider and curveball this week and continues to improve. “He was an outfielder in high school that pitched and now he’s a pitcher that dreams of being an outfielder,” Coach Wasikowski said after the game.
In the second inning, Maddox Molony scored as Chase Meggers was caught trying to steal second. This was Oregon’s lone run scored before the eighth inning. This was also the first of two times the Ducks would end an inning trying to steal second base.
The Cougars would eventually find life and score in the fifth inning with a solo home run from Joey Kramer. It was his 11th this season and second in the series. After Grinsell walked two batters in the sixth, the Cougars scored another runner with a hit from Logan Johnstone. Washington State then began to add to its lead in the top of the eighth inning off of a two-RBI single from Alan Shibley.
This set up for the dramatic finish Oregon would pull off in the bottom of the eighth. The Ducks racked up seven runs, five hits, three hit-by-pitch calls and one walk in the inning. The inning was highlighted by Jacob Walsh’s two-RBI double, Molony’s two-RBI single and Boettcher’s three-run home run which put the nail in the coffin.
Now that Oregon has won the first two games of the series, it will look to complete its first conference series sweep this season on Saturday.
“We might need to sacrifice a live chicken somewhere or a rooster. We need to do something where we can get this done tomorrow,” Coach Wasikowski said of the final game of the series.
The Ducks' Senior Day and final game of the regular season will be Saturday at 12:05 p.m. at PK Park.