A beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon in Eugene, Ore. meant it was time for Game 2 of the rivalry series between the No. 13 Oregon Ducks (29-12, 14-7 Big Ten) and the No. 3 Oregon State Beavers (32-8), which saw Oregon win in style 13-1.
Oregon’s defense started off the game strong in the top of the first, securing a double play off a grounder directed towards sophomore shortstop Maddox Molony.
The Ducks' offense also got off on the right foot, in the bottom of the first, with Dominic Hellman hitting a deep ball over the center field wall, bringing home two runs, and making it a 2-0 Oregon game early. Beavers starting pitcher Dax Whitney (3.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K and 68 pitches) recorded his first strikeout of the game to end the inning.
Oregon starting pitcher Collin Clarke (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K and 93 pitches) kept the defense hot in the top of the second and left one runner stranded on second after recording his first strikeout of the game to end the inning.
Drew Smith blew the doors open for the Ducks with a grounder towards center field with the bases loaded to bring home two runs, making it a 4-0 lead for Oregon in the bottom of the second inning.
Another double play put an end to the top of the fourth for the Ducks, making quick work of the inning.
The bottom of the fourth inning saw Oregon State make a pitching change at the mound. AJ Hutcheson (1 1/3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K and 38 pitches) came in for Whitney, with hopes to get the Beavers back on track.
But Jacob Walsh had other plans. He hit a sky-high deep ball over the right field wall to bring home both himself and Hellman, and make the score 6-0 Oregon. Molony then hit a grounder into left field to bring Smith home and increase the lead to 7-0.
The Beavers couldn’t get anything going in the top of the fifth inning, with three batters stepping up to the plate, and none going any further at the midway point in the game.
The bottom of the fifth inning saw another mound change for the Beavers. James Decremer (1.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K and 24 pitches) relieved Hutcheson. However, on Decremer’s third pitch, Oregon’s single-season home run record holder, Mason Neville, hit a home run, making it 21 on the season, and extending the lead to 9-0 for the Ducks, bringing Ryan Cooney home in the process.
Oregon State finally got some offense moving in the top of the sixth inning, bringing Easton Talt home to make the score 9-1. The Beavers left opportunities on the diamond, though, stranding two runners, including one in scoring position.
The runs kept stacking up on the scorecard for the Ducks in the bottom of the sixth inning. Molony hit a dinger out into left center field, bringing himself and Anson Aroz home to make it a 10-run difference, with Oregon extending the lead 11-1.
The woes continued for the Beavers when Carter Garate hit a line drive just inside the lines to bring two more runs home, making it 13-1. The pitching changes continued as well, with Zach Kmatz (1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K and 21 pitches) becoming the fourth pitcher of the day for Oregon State.
At the top of the seventh inning, Oregon decided that Clarke had done enough at the mound and relieved him with Ryan Featherston (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, and 30 pitches). He did exactly what he needed to do, striking out the first batter he faced.
The seventh inning was only the second scoreless inning of the game for both teams, with both teams only sending four batters to the plate.
The Beavers reached deep into their pitching depth, bringing out their fifth pitcher of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, Zach Edwards (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, and 14 pitches).
Oregon needed three outs in the top of the ninth inning to clinch the series, and it did so with two pitchers: Jaxon Jordan and Sam Boyle.
Oregon showed its offensive power today. It paid off with 13 runs in 14 hits to clinch the series. The Ducks also weakened the Beavers’ bullpen, facing five different pitchers throughout the day.
The Ducks and the Beavers will return to PK Park for Game 3 on Sunday, Apr. 27 at 12:05 p.m.