EUGENE, Ore. — Right fielder Angel Laya’s third home run of the year contributed to a three-run fifth inning, and the Oregon Ducks (16–3, 4–1 Big Ten) took care of business with a 5–1 win over the Indiana Hoosiers (7–11, 1–4 Big Ten) at PK Park on Saturday afternoon.
Laya, who finished the game 2-for-2 with the home run and a pair of walks, scored third baseman Drew Smith, who reached base after working a nine-pitch walk. Smith, who leads the Ducks in batting average, also left the yard, hitting his seventh home run of the year in the second inning.
“He conducts really good at-bats and has the ability to put a good swing on that lefty,” Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski said. “That lefty hadn’t given up a home run all year, and Angel got him.”
Second baseman Ryan Cooney, who finished 2-for-5, gave the Ducks the lead in the third with a solo home run and drove in the Ducks’ fifth run on an infield single in the fourth. Cooney has four hits over the first two games of the series against the Hoosiers.
Ducks’ right-hander Collin Clarke (3–1) pitched seven innings, allowing one run on only two hits while striking out six batters.
“It was a really good start for Collin [Clarke], he’s a super competitor,” Wasikowski said. “You've got to really appreciate how competitive he is. His mix is really good, he’s got an electric arm, and he’s got a good feel of the ball.”
The defense made Clarke’s day a whole lot easier:
Center fielder Jax Gimenez nabbed what would’ve been an extra-base hit for Indiana’s Hogan Denny off the board with a sprawling grab in the first.
“Jax [Gimenez] set the tone right away with that catch,” Wasikowski said. “It was really a wonderful catch. He’s an infielder learning to play outfield, and he’s going for it, which is great.”
Smith turned a slick 5-3 double play to help Clarke escape a one-out jam.
“It was awesome,” Smith said. “That was a clutch spot for us trying to kill some of their momentum and get Clarke off the mound, and it worked out.”
Laya robbed Landen Fry of extra bases in the seventh, crashing into the right-field wall while making the catch.
Right-hander Luke Morgan pitched the eighth and retired the Hoosiers in order. Left-hander Blake Crawford pitched one out in the ninth before turning it over to Michel Meckna, who got the final two outs for the Ducks.
Centerfielder Cole Decker scored the lone Hoosier run, tying the game at one apiece in the third inning with a solo shot of his own; the ball landed on the roof of the Oregon training facility in right field.
Indiana left-hander Tony Neubeck made it through four innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.
Ivan Mastalski, Kellen English, and Pete Haas pitched four shutout innings in relief, allowing only one hit over the span.
Oregon, which has extended its winning streak to five games, has a chance to complete a series sweep tomorrow, as they take on the Hoosiers in the final of three games. First pitch at 12:05 p.m. Pacific Time
What’s Next:
Oregon vs. Indiana Sunday 3/15 12:35 p.m. PT