Oregon Ducks outlast Long Beach State

It happened again. Vernell Warren scored his second straight game-winning run, as the Oregon Ducks knocked of Long Beach State 3-2 in 13 innings. A bench player was once again crucial in the outcome of the game, as pinch-hitter Kyle Garlick, a freshman no less, came through in a big spot and delivered the walk-off hit to score Warren in from third. LBS shortstop Matt Duffy atoned for his error in the first game of the series by singling to keep the game going and scoring the game-tying run off of Jimmie Sherfy in the ninth.

Sherfy came into the game in the eighth inning and ended up notching his second victory of the season in 5.2 innings of work. He allowed just four hits and one run, while striking out eight batters. Sherfy is quickly becoming one of the best relievers in college baseball, and he can strike out everybody he faces.

Both starters put in strong performances for the Oregon Ducks and Long Beach State, as Ducks starter Jake Reed allowed as many hits and walks as strikeouts (6). He only surrendered one run in 7.1 innings with nine groundball outs and five flyball outs. Matt Anderson was strong for LBS in 6.2 innings of one-run ball. He struck out eight batters with just two walks and five hits against him.

Coming out of the bullpen, Josh Frye was superb and allowed just three hits in three scoreless frames. Jon Marciel finished the game with his first loss of the season after allowing three hits and the game-winning run in the 13th (he also pitched in the 12th inning).

Vernell Warren’s heroics cannot be understated, and he pinch-hit with aplomb after coming into the game for left fielder Brett Thomas. Warren went 2-2 with a walk, and Ryon Healy (five at-bats, three strikeouts) was the only other player on the Oregon Ducks with two hits.

The 4-6 Dirtbags had two such players with mult-hit games; second baseman Jeff McNeil (2-6) and designated hitter Brennan Fulkerson (2-5). The only players in this game to notch extra-base hits were on the Oregon Ducks, as Brett Hambright and Scott Heineman both hit a double. It was Hambright’s third of the season, and the catcher has been a key cog in the Oregon Ducks offensive attack. The No. 18 Ducks scrapped through another win against LBS at home, and Vernell Warren was once again clutch on the bases and at the dish (reached based safely on all his PAs).

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