Oregon Baseball: Ducks Drop Series to UCLA, Salvage Finale, Hold Steady in Pac 12 Race

Throughout the course of the baseball season there are games and series that you look back on, this weekend was one of those. Oregon(29-8, 10-4 Pac 12) had an opportunity to get some distance between Oregon State(28-10, 12-5 Pac 12) and the rest of the Pac 12, but they managed to just keep pace with the Beavers in the Pac 12 race after a 1-2 weekend vs #11 UCLA(25-10, 9-5) at PK Park.

Tommy Thorpe(5-4) pitched well in Game 1 on Friday allowed just three hits, but gave up for walks. For the game Oregon stranded 10 UCLA runners on base, but could not manage a run, but they gave one up and lost 1-0.

Cole Irvin(7-2) took the mound on Saturday and the Freshman allowed an unearned run in the Top of the 1st, but threw a complete game for the Ducks. He allowed six hits, struck out three and walked one. The Ducks had several opportunities, but were unable to capitalize in another 1-0 loss on Saturday night. Tolman, Baumgartner and Brett Thomas were held to one hit each.

Scott Heineman

GoDucks.com

The final game of the series saw the Ducks break through against the Bruins to salvage at least one game of the series. Oregon sent Jake Reed to the mound and he held the Bruins in check. UCLA took an early lead in the third inning and the Ducks answered back snapping a 20 inning scoreless streak as J.J. Altobelli tied the game. Scott Heineman did the rest in the 5th inning hitting a bases clearing triple and giving the Ducks a 5-3 lead.

Reed (5-3) got the win for Oregon allowing three runs on six hits in six innings. Jimmie Sherfy picked up his 13th save striking out two of the three Bruins he faced in the ninth inning.

Oregon faces Portland(away) on Tuesday before returning home to take on Stanford at PK Park in a three game series.

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