Early-season jitters are typical, especially in baseball. Batters start off sluggish, pitchers may get hit around a little bit and the manager may still be working the kinks out of the lineup. Oregon first baseman Jacob Walsh completely ignored that norm in the Oregon Ducks’ 9-2 season opener against the Toledo Rockets.

In the bottom of the sixth, the score was tied at one apiece with both teams failing to plate a run in their last four innings of work. After a fielding error put leadoff batter Drew Smith on first, Walsh came to the plate with a chance to put Oregon back in front. Walsh fell behind in the count 1-2 but felt no pressure. On the next pitch, he cranked an opposite-field two-run blast to give the Ducks the lead 3-1.

This blew the Ducks’ offense open. In the last three innings on offense, they scored in every single one. When the dust settled and closing pitcher Seth Mattox sealed it, Oregon took down Toledo 9-2 to cap off a strong opening day at PK Park.

“I missed a changeup right before it, and he just threw another one and I was like, ‘Oh, sweet,’” Walsh said after the game. “It’s early, guys have that first day jitters, you could tell in the later innings that we were getting it out, we were having fun. When we can do that, we start doing our thing.”

Oregon came into this one with a chip on their shoulder after a Super Regional defeat from Texas A&M the season before. With a fresh slate ahead, Oregon can now play from ahead due to the key 1-0 start.

The game started off hot for Oregon and the mood seemed to be trending towards a blowout. Starting pitcher Grayson Grinsell lived up to early expectations by striking out two in the first and putting up a 0. In the bottom of the inning, the first three Ducks to come up to the plate singled. The third single came from Walsh, who scored center fielder Mason Neville from second.

Toledo wasn’t going down without a fight though. A double play and a runner who was thrown out trying to steal got them out of the first. Then in the second, the Rockets first baseman Tre Mariano nuked one to tie the game at one.

The game went stale for the next few innings after that. Grinsell continued to be impressive after bouncing back from the solo home run by putting up zeroes the rest of the way. After five innings and a stunning seven strikeouts, Grinsells day was done after the fifth inning. Five full innings pitched, seven strikeouts, one hit and two walks is exactly what the Ducks were looking for from their opening day starter.

“I thought he pitched well. Seemed like was in command of all of his pitches, he threw them over the plate for strikes,” manager Mark Wasikowski said. “One guy got the solo shot, ambushed him on one of them, and that’s going to happen sometimes, but I thought he pitched well.”

The Walsh homer in the bottom of the sixth broke the offseason ice for the Oregon offense. A passed ball in the top of the seventh inched the Rockets closer at 3-2 and the Ducks followed that up with another two-run inning in the bottom of the seventh. The first came from third baseman Carter Garate, who slapped a double to score Jack Brooks and advance Ryan Cooney to third. In the next at-bat, Neville manufactured a run by sac-flying Cooney home.

The eighth is where the Ducks put the Rockets to bed. Chaos ensued when, following back-to-back singles, Toledo relief pitcher Logan Jones misled it past their first baseman on a failed pickoff attempt. Because of this, shortstop Maddox Maloney was able to come around and score, and Brooks was able to move to third. A balk then let Brooks in a couple of batters later. Toledo was able to get two outs, but Oregon wasn’t done as Neville doubled to score Cooney and Smith singled to score Neville. That put the Ducks up 9-2 and gave them plenty of insurance.

Mattox took care of business and struck out the final batter to make the 9-2 Oregon Ducks opening day win official.

Walsh led the way for the Oregon offense, going 2-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Also chipping in was Neville, going 2-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Oregon stays at PK Park Saturday against the Toledo Rockets for a doubleheader. The first pitch will take place at 11:05 a.m. and the second game will follow.

“It was good to be back out there on opening day,” Grinsell said. “Feels like yesterday we were flying home from Texas A&M, so it’s good to be back.”