EUGENE, Ore. — Fans filled PK Park as the Oregon Ducks baseball team played their third game of the series against the Youngstown State Penguins. The Ducks had won both of the first games, beating the Penguins 18-1 in Game 1 and shutting them out 3-0 in the last meeting after an aggressive defensive effort from both teams. The Ducks were prepared for another strong defense from Youngstown State as the Penguins’ starting pitcher, Jack Messmore, was one of the pitchers who fought well against Auburn the previous weekend. The Ducks persevered and beat the Penguins 7-0.
The Ducks showed their hunger for the win early. Starting pitcher Collin Clarke struck out two batters in the top of the first, and Angel Laya robbed Misael Uriepero of a home run with an incredible catch at the fence to end the frame.
“I think he brought one back in the first inning,” head coach Mark Wasikowski said of Laya. “You know that was a really well-hit and a great defensive play by the freshman out in right field.”
In the bottom of the first, Maddox Molony drew a walk to load the bases with two outs as Drew Smith stepped up to bat. Smith singled through the left side, allowing Ryan Cooney and Jax Gimenez to score the first runs for the Ducks, and ended the inning with Oregon in the lead by two.
The Ducks continued their aggression in the bottom of the third inning. Gabe Miranda hit his first home run of the season and, as a Duck, after transferring from Northern Kentucky. Shortly after, Burke-Lee Mabeus scored a two-run home run for the Ducks, which caused the Penguins to bring in Jack Ferretti from the bullpen. Ferretti helped get the last two outs, but the Ducks still led by five.
“I heard early that the pitcher was struggling with command, so I pretty much got the take sign and found my timing,” Miranda said about his home run. “I think that’s kind of been my issue, so it felt good.”
In the top of the fourth, Molony made a diving catch and recovered quickly to help make a double play at first and second. The play left the crowd and even Clarke in shock as he looked at Molony in disbelief.
With bases loaded once again, Molony recorded an RBI as Gimenez scored another run for the Ducks, with the inning ending 6-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Laya hit a line drive on the foul line for a single. After only being in for a full inning, Sloan Ulrich relieved Ferretti on the mound, and Cooney singled to right field for runners to be on first and third with only one out. With an RBI from Gimenez, Laya scored a run as Cooney advanced to second. After a call being under review and later upheld on Cooney being caught stealing third, the inning ended 7-0 with the Ducks still shutting out the Penguins.
Miles Gosztola replaced Clarke in the top of the seventh. After recording two strikeouts, Gosztola struggled with his footing and walked two batters, but was able to help get a groundout to first base for the last out of the inning.
At the top of the ninth with a shutout in their grasp, substitutes Tyler Holley, Brayden Jaksa, and Malosi Mata’afa-Alferos made a double play to end the game for the Ducks 7-0.
It was a strong performance from the incoming recruits with big plays from Laya, Jacksa, and Mata’afa-Alferos as Wasikowski said, “They really have stepped up to a lot of things that we’ve asked them to do, and it’s just that they look old out there. They look more mature out there than your typical freshman.”
The Ducks will play their final game of the series against the Penguins on Sunday, February 22nd, to close out the weekend, hopeful of a shutout series win.