The No. 5-ranked Oregon Ducks (36-13, 17-8 Big Ten) had the Cascade Clash in front of them on Friday as they took on the unranked Washington Huskies (27-23, 15-10 Big Ten) for the first of a three-game set.
At the bottom of the seventh, the Ducks were in control up 4-0, but had gone six straight frames of zeroes. After junior designated hitter Mason Neville flew out to center, senior right fielder Jeffrey Heard pinch hit for senior right fielder Parker Stinson. Heard fell behind in the count 1-2, then fouled off a pitch to stay alive. On the next pitch, Heard slaughtered the ball deep to right field and into the Oregon bullpen. This made it a 5-0 Ducks lead, a score that would end up being the final.
Leading the charge for the Oregon offense was junior left fielder Anson Aroz, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
“We got a hungry group that’s looking to do more than just win games,” Aroz said. “We want to be a championship team. Obviously, the National Championship being the main goal, but we’re trying to dominate everything that we can do. There’s layers to it. We know the position we’re in and we’re taking each day like it’s our last and just trying to win one game at a time.”
The Ducks stepped into this rivalry showdown coming off a midweek sweep against the unranked Saint Mary’s Gaels. Pitching was the headline of the two-game set for Oregon, with a strong performance from junior left-handed reliever Ian Umlandt on Tuesday and a walkless showing by the whole staff on Wednesday.
There was no messing around for the Ducks against the Pacific Northwest foe. At the bottom of the first, Neville walked to lead off the game and was followed by Stinson, who moved him over with a sac-bunt. The small ball would pay off as senior first baseman Jacob Walsh poked one through the right side that scored Neville from second. Junior center fielder Drew Smith then got plunked to put runners on first and second and set the table for Anson Aroz to line one up the middle to plate Walsh.
Oregon wasn’t done yet as sophomore shortstop Maddox Molony worked a walk to load the bases. Washington continued to struggle at finding the zone when freshman catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus got a free pass, which brought in Smith. Another free run would come across thanks to junior third baseman Carter Garate, who took a pitch on the shoulder, and Aroz trotted home.
After one inning, the Ducks batted around, and it was 4-0.
Things went quiet for both sides until the bottom of the seventh when Heard pinch-hit for Stinson.
On a 1-2 pitch, Heard punched in the launch sequence as he blasted an off-speed pitch into the Oregon bullpen. This was Heard’s third homer of the year and his first since Feb. 28.
The legend of Grinsell grew as his spectacular performance (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 Ks and 121 TP) came to a close in the top of the eighth. Sophomore right-handed flamethrower Cole Stokes took the hill with a five-run cushion.
“It was a really good start,” Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski said. “It allowed Grayson to settle in. Grayson wanted to finish the game, and we had to pry the ball out of his hand, even after the seventh inning. We were like no, you’re done man. Go sit down. Cool down. He pitched really well, and he’s a true competitor.”
Stokes (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 Ks and 22 TP) would only put in one inning of work, but he displayed all of his talents. He picked up four strikeouts in the inning, as one batter reached on a dropped third strike.
Senior right-handed closer Seth Mattox (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 Ks and 6 TP) checked in to close this one out for the Ducks. In only six pitches, Mattox delivered the easy three outs to seal the 5-0 series opening win.
“It’s what you expect out of Stokes and Seth,” Grinsell said. “They’re both nasty dudes. They got good stuff, and when they come in behind you, it’s a pretty comfortable feeling knowing you’re going to win the game.”
Also contributing to the Oregon bats was Walsh, who was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Oregon heads back to PK Park tomorrow to play Game 2 of the battle of the Northwest on Saturday. Sophomore right-handed starter Collin Clarke will get the nod as he looks to continue his solid pitching.