Oregon Ducks sweep Vanderbilt

The Oregon Ducks baseball team is off to a sizzling start and have won their seventh straight game on the road against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Currently ranked No. 17, the Dores are surely going to fall in the rankings, while the ticker for the Ducks is trending upward. This series sweep is certainly huge for the team, and their recent 7-6 win was a hard-fought, well-earned victory for George Horton’s squad.

Brando Tessar now has two wins this season, and the Oregon Ducks starter tossed five innings of five-run ball. However, only two of those were earned, despite allowing seven hits and four walks. For the first time in the series, the Ducks committed an error and actually had more errors (2-1) than the Dores.

The starter for Vandy, Drew VerHagen, lasted just 1.2 innings and allowed three runs on the same number of hits. However, it was Will Clinard who was charged with his first loss of the season after allowing four runs and five hits- but five strikeouts- in 3.2 innings.

So far this season, Jimmie Sherfy has been a force coming out of the bullpen for the Oregon Ducks. The Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week allowed just one hit and one run in the final 2.2 frames of the game and earned his second save of the year. Sherfy does have some command issues, as illustrated by the five walks, but he once again delivered with the Ks and sent down four Commodores on strikes.

Connor Castellano and Mark Yastrzemski provided strong hitting performances for Vanderbilt, as each player notched two hits and a run. However, Castellano was the more impressive player and added two walks and a double. His two RBIs led the team in a game where both teams had nine hits apiece.

The Oregon Ducks had  3-0 lead in the second, and this was thanks to a solo shot from Scott Heineman (2-3, two runs and a walk). Aaron Payne came to bring the pain and seemed to control the flight of the ball with his mind in a 3-4 effort that included a double and yet another stolen base for the second baseman.

You can follow me on Twitter @SorianoJoe and Autzen Zoo @Autzen_Zoo.

Like us on Facebook at Autzen Zoo.