By Jonah Bruneau
Oregon went into Game Two on Saturday against the California Golden Bears of Berkeley up 1-0 in the series after a 7-2 victory on Friday night. The Ducks carried their winning ways into Saturday as Oregon took the second game of the weekend over the Golden Bears by the final of 8-3, giving them the series win and a chance to sweep on Sunday. Oregon's offense struck for 16 hits, their most since the April 22 series opener at home against Washington State when they accumulated 18 (four game stretch between now and then).
After an approximately 20 minute rain delay at the start of the game, Isaac Ayon (Sophomore) took the mound for the Ducks as he was called upon for his 11th start of the season. Things did not go as planned early for Ayon as on the just the second pitch of the game, Nathan Martorella took Ayon deep to right-center field for a lead-off home run to begin the afternoon. That was shortly followed up by a double from Dylan Beavers, yet Ayon was finally then able to settle in and get out of the first inning with only giving up the one run. Ayon ended up going six innings for the Ducks, allowing seven hits, three runs, two walks, and recording seven strikeouts on his way to his third win of the campaign. Andrew Mosiello (Sophomore) then came into the game in the seventh inning, only allowing one base runner to reach on a walk. Caleb Sloan (Junior) entered the game in the eighth, and would record the final six outs for Oregon giving up no hits in the process. The Ducks on offense answered California's run in the top half of the first inning with five of their own in the bottom half, quickly taking control of the game in which they never relinquished the lead following the first inning. Tanner Smith (Junior) saw the ball great on Saturday as he went 4-5 with two RBI's and two runs scored, not to mention the home run he took away up against the left field fence in the seventh inning. Drew Cowley (Junior) had a nice afternoon at the dish as well batting behind Smith as he went 3-5 with a double and a run scored. Anthony Hall (Sophomore) and Josiah Cromwick (Sophomore) each had two hits in the game and an RBI a piece.
The Ducks will look to complete the three-game sweep of the Golden Bears on Sunday live from PK Park, with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 PM PT. Oregon will be looking to improve to 14-7 in the conference and stay in the race for the PAC-12 title with Oregon State and UCLA.
Audio Story by Ben McGrath