Oregon Baseball, Softball Open Home Pac 12 Schedule This Weekend

Oregon Baseball hosts Arizona at PK Park, Softball hosts Stanford at Howe Field                                                      

Ducks Take Game 1 of Series with National Audience Looking On, 2-1 over Arizona.

Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

Oregon Baseball(16-6, 3-1 Pac 12) started its Pac 12 Season on the road last weekend taking two of three from USC. They return to PK Park This Weekend for a three game set against Defending National Champion Arizona and started off with a series win. In a tight game, Starting Pitcher Jake Reed along with Christian Jones and Closer Jimmie Sherfy held Arizona to just six hits on the night in the 2-1 victory.

Leading up to last night’s game, Oregon came off 13 games in a 17 day stretch and come into the series with some hot bats. The Ducks hit .251 in that time, thanks in part to First Baseman Ryan Healy(.339, 2 HR, 9 RBI’s) and  Brett Thomas(.326, 3 doubles, 6 RBI’s). Oregon Pitching this season is led by Jeff Gold(2-0, 1.50 ERA) and Closer Jimmie Sherfy(3 saves, 1.23 ERA)

"What Champions do is get off the deck and do something about it so we have out work cut out for us.-Oregon Coach George Horton on Arizona after getting swept by Oregon State at home."

Arizona(15-9, 0-4 Pac 12) is looking for its first win of the Pac 12 Season after being swept last weekend by #3 Oregon State. The Wildcats are led by Brandon Dixon(.430, 37 hits, 18 stolen bases) and features a lineup that, like the Ducks, thrive on Defense and small ball. The Wildcat Offense could not find its stride against the Beavers last weekend. It was the first time they have been swept since 2010 in a three game series.

Arizona comes into this weekend hitting .316, good enough for 2nd in the Pac 12.

The series continues Saturday, 2pm, and Sunday at Noon.

10 Ranked Oregon Softball Goes 23-4 in Non Conference, Host Stanford This Weekend to Start Pac 12 Play

Oregon Softball is glad to be home at Howe Field after playing in non stop Tournaments to kick off the 2012-2013 season. They welcome 15th Ranked Stanford for a three game set. The Ducks have won the season series the past two seasons against the Cardinal. Oregon Senior Starting Pitcher Jessica Moore is holding opponents to a 1.77 batting average, good enough for second in the Pac 12.

GoDucks.com

The series may come down to pitching. For Stanford Sophomore Hanna Winter leads the team with 32 hits on the season. Stanford Starting Pitcher Tegan Gerhardt is 11-3 on the season, holding opponents to a 1.36 ERA, and leads the Pac 12 in category. Stanford Pitcher Freshman Kelsey Stevens pitched a perfect game, the first of the season earlier this year vs Virginia.

The series also has some added intrigue as a father will face his daughter, who plays for the opposing team. Mike White, Oregon’s Head Coach may have some words of wisdom for Sophomore Pitcher Nyree White before the game.

Gametimes at Howe Field are Saturday at 2pm, Sunday at 3pm(Pac 12 Network, the first softball game to be played on P12), and Monday at Noon. The Ducks then hit the road to face off with Washington.

Oregon Ducks This Week:

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