Oregon Ducks top Vanderbilt
Alex Keudell pitched seven innings of five hit ball and allowed just two runs, as the Oregon Ducks pushed past No. 17 Vanderbilt in a 4-2 victory. After Keudell left the game, Jimmie Sherfy followed up his 13 strikeout gem by earning his first save of the season. Sherfy has been incredible so far this year, and he blanked the opposition in two innings and also notched two strikeouts for the Oregon Ducks.
The crucial play of the game for the 5-1 Ducks was pinch-hitter Brett Thomas’s single in the sixth to drive in star designated hitter Ryon Healy, who scored two runs for the second straight game. Aaron Jones made it a 2-2 ballgame with a sac fly, and the catcher ended up with a game-high two steaks.
Kevin Ziomek pitched well, but luck was not on his side in 4.2 innings. He gave up two runs, but none of them were earned in a two-hit, one walk performance. Ziomek also struck out six batters and fared out much better than Brian Miller, who replaced him in the game. Miller was charged with the loss and allowed two earned runs in two innings of action.
Shortstop Anthony Gomez had the lone RBI for the Commodores, and he and catcher Spencer Navin (two walks) were the men who scored for Vandy. However, Gomez made a crucial error (one of three for the team) in the fourth inning to help open things up for the opposition. The team is off to a poor start this season and sits at 1-4, while the Oregon Ducks have their first five-game winning streak on the road since 1978.
Chase Hoffman made an impact as a pinch hitter after knocking a home run in his last game, and the centerfielder scored on Aaron Jones’s RBI double in the seventh and had a walk and single of his own.
The Oregon Ducks are sizzling right now, and their win over a disappointing Vandy team is yet another nice mark on their resume this season. The Commodores, meanwhile, need to get back on track and hope that luck ends up on their side.
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