Oregon Ducks Defeat Arizona in Pac-12 Showdown

The #10 ranked Oregon Ducks defeated the #11 Arizona Wildcats by a score of 6-1 in the first game of a 3-game series matching the two top teams in the Pac-12 Conference.  The Ducks are in the first place in the Pac – 12 with a record of 33-13 (15-7 in Pac-12) after the victory.  The Wildcats fell to 29-14 (12-7 in Pac-12) after the loss.

The star of the game was Ducks starter Alex Keudell who pitched a complete game going 9 innings while surrendering just 7 hits and one earned run while striking out seven batters.  Keudell, a senior, improves his record to 8-3 on the season.  Keudell’s eight victories lead the Ducks and he also lowered his team leading ERA to a minuscule 1.79

The Ducks pounded out 13 hits in the game with 12 coming off Arizona starter Kurt Heyer.  Heyer pitched eight innings giving up five runs (three earned) and struck out five batters.  His record fell to 8-2 on the season.

Second basemen Aaron Payne had three hits and three runs batted in to lead the Duck offense.  Designated hitter Aaron Jones, right fielder Kyle Garlick and first baseman Ryon Healy each drove in a run a piece as well.  Healy capped the scoring with his third homerun of the season in the ninth inning.  Four of the Ducks runs came on two out hits.  The Ducks scored two runs in the second and sixth innings and solo runs in the third and ninth.

The Wildcats offensively were led by left fielder Johnny Field and designated hitter Bobby Brown who each had two hits on the day.  Arizona’s lone run off of Keudell came in the bottom of the seventh inning on a RBI single by catcher Riley Moore.

The second game of the series will be played today at 6:00 pm PT at Hi Corbett Field.

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