Oregon Sweeps California

Dominate starting pitching from all three of the Ducks starters led the way to a three-game series sweep of the Golden Bears in Eugene.

FRIDAY: California 1 @ Oregon 4 (Final)
SATURDAY: California 2 @ Oregon 3 (Final)
SUNDAY: California 1 @ Oregon 7 (Final)

14th-ranked Oregon (30-13, 14-7) stops the bleeding as Alex Keudell, Jake Reed, and Jeff Gold all went at least seven innings in their starts and helped hold California (23-18, 7-11) to just four runs for the entire weekend. Keudell had a complete game on Friday’s event, only giving up five hits and one earned run. Only one walk was given up and the only run was given up by the Golden Bears’ small-ball offense in the third inning.

Both Reed and Gold pitched a total of seven innings each and gave up a total of 16 hits. Reed also gave up four walks, and neither of them had many strikeouts. It was the ability to hold California from scoring runs, and the team left 21 on base in the Saturday and Sunday sessions. Saturday’s game was fueled by the fans, getting nearly 4,000 in PK Park thanks to the spring football game played just beforehand.

Aaron Jones finally returned to the line-up and started off the series with a bang getting two hits and three RBIs in a 4-1 victory on Friday, but went hitless in the next two games. Ryon Healy and Brett Thomas led the way in the middle of the lineup in the Saturday game edging Cal 3-2; Healy hitting twice and represented two of the runs scored, Thomas had three hits and one RBI. Kyle Garlick and Aaron Payne both nailed three hits and drove in three RBIs each in Sunday’s most dominating 7-1 victory.

The Ducks will be heading to Spokane, Washington, to take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs in a two-game midweek series beginning May 1st.

Follow Brian Spaen on Twitter @Spaeniard and what’s happening in Autzen Zoo @Autzen_Zoo. Also take a look at his lacrosse blog, Around the Crease.