The No. 5-ranked Oregon Ducks (35-13, 16-8 Big Ten) delivered on the midweek two-game sweep against the unranked Saint Mary’s Gaels (26-22, 10-8 WCC) with an 8-1 comfortable victory on Wednesday.
At the bottom of the ninth, freshman right-handed reliever Tanner Bradley had the reins on the mound to close out the game. Despite this being Bradley’s second appearance of the season, he instantly went into cruise control as he popped up the first batter of the inning on one pitch. He sat down the next with a strikeout, and the fans at PK Park could feel it as their Ducks were three strikes away from eight wins in their last nine games. Bradley got ahead 0-2, stayed strong after the batter fought off a pitch foul, then felt the breeze as freshman pinch hitter Makoa Sniffen whiffed on the pitch to end the game.
“The development is occurring at a pretty high level, and you’re seeing that,” Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski said. “The pitches that Tanner was making and that Julien [Hernandez] was making, that’s really good stuff coming out of their hand, and it’s located really well. I think we need to tip our hat and say well done, Coach Hawk.”
Leading the way for the Oregon offense was junior catcher Chase Meggers, who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
“It felt good to be back,” Meggers said. “I’ve been going through some struggles, and Marter told me something before my second at-bat, and it stuck with me. I made an adjustment and it felt really good to get those two knocks.”
Getting the nod on the start for the Ducks was right-handed starter Hernandez, who made his first appearance since Apr. 13.
The Ducks were coming off a 6-3 victory over the same Gaels crew on Tuesday. In that game, Oregon only picked up four hits as a team, as the pitching held down the Saint Mary’s offense. Junior left-handed Ian Umlandt led the way for the pitching staff, going 6 2/3 innings of one-run baseball.
The Oregon bench was utilized early as Meggers pinch hit for freshman catcher Coen Niclai at the top of the third, likely in favor of the right-handed pitcher, left-handed batter matchup.
Unlike the day before, the Ducks jumped out to a lead first in the bottom of the third. Junior third baseman Carter Garate singled to lead off the inning and was followed up by a walk from junior designated hitter Mason Neville, a balk to put runners on second and third, and a walk from Meggers. Senior first baseman Jacob Walsh put one in play that scored Garate from third off the fielder’s choice, then junior center fielder Drew Smith poked one deep enough to left field to score Neville off the sac-fly. After three, it was 2-0 Oregon.
Hernandez’s (3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 Ks and 50 TP) day would come to an end in the top of the fourth when sophomore right-handed reliever Ryan Featherston took over.
This was a career high in strikeouts for Hernandez.
“It was a good win,” Hernandez said. “Strikeouts are strikeouts, but I just keep doing my best, keep throwing strikes and keep attacking batters.”
Saint Mary’s immediately cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth after back-to-back doubles scored sophomore left fielder Aiden Taurek. Featherston held the runner in scoring position, though, keeping the game at 2-1.
Both offenses simmered until the bottom of the sixth when the Ducks got action by loading the bases with only one out. On a 2-2 count, Meggers hit a dribbler to the first baseman, who tossed to the pitcher, but Meggers beat it out to score sophomore second baseman Ryan Cooney. While the attention was at first base, Garate cashed in by flying around from second and forcing a poor throw home as he scored. Walsh was then intentionally walked to reload the bases, and Smith worked a four-pitch walk to give Oregon a free run. The Gaels were able to get the second out, but Oregon wasn’t done as sophomore shortstop Maddox Molony ripped one to left field to score two, and senior right fielder Parker Stinson singled through the right side to score another. When the frame ended, the Ducks were in control with an 8-1 lead.
Senior right fielder Jeffrey Heard pinch ran for Stinson after his single and slid into right field after the frame.
Featherston’s excellent relief appearance (3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 Ks and 58 TP) came to a close as senior right-handed reliever Jaxon Jordan took the hill with one out at the top of the seventh.
The outing was short for Jordan (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K and 10 TP), but that paved the way for Bradley to make his second appearance of the season.
Bradley shut down the Saint Mary’s offense (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 Ks and 16 TP) as he picked up two outs in the eighth and then sat down all three in order in the ninth, including two via the strikeout.
Also contributing to the Oregon offense was Garate, who was 2-for-4.
Oregon will stay home this weekend as it takes on the bitter rival Washington Huskies for a three-game series. The Cascade Clash will begin on Friday, May 9, at 6:05 p.m.