Oregon Baseball: Ducks Fly East to Meet Ohio State This Weekend

Oregon Closer Jimmie Sherfy

GoDucks.com

Oregon and Ohio State will meet on the football field, although that is a few years away. This weekend the Duck Baseball team(37-11, 19-5 Pac 12) meets Ohio State 33-15(14-7, Big 10).  for the first time.

The Buckeyes are ranked 3rd in their conference and took on Georgia Tech during the week, winning one of two.  According to OhioBuckeyes.com,

The Buckeyes rank in multiple offensive categories including stolen bases (74, 3rd), triples (13, t-2nd), home runs (19, t-3rd) and runs scored (253, 3rd). On the mound, Ohio State ranks in ERA (3.16, 3rd), saves (18, 1st), walks allowed (120, 2nd), opposing batting average (.247, 4th) and strikeouts (328, 1st). The Buckeyes also are second with a .976 fielding percentage.

Individually, Pat Porter is fourth with 39 runs scored, tied for first with four triples, ninth with a .483 slugging percentage and tied for fourth with 12 doubles. Joe Ciamacco leads the Big Ten with 20 stolen bases while Jacob Bosiokovic, Ryan Cypret and Porter are tied for 10th with four home runs. Kirby Pellant is tied for third with three triples.

Brad Goldberg sits tied for sixth in the conference with 53 strikeouts and 10th with a .251 opposing batting average while Brian King sits fifth with a .223 opposing batting average, eighth with a 2.59 ERA and is tied for first in the conference with seven wins. King and Jaron Long are first and tied for second in the conference, respectively, in innings pitched while Trace Dempsey leads the Big Ten with 16 saves and 26 appearances.

For Oregon, currently on an 8 game road trip, the three game series with the Buckeyes brings the Ducks east of the Mississipi. Coach Horton’s team is 4-1 so far on the trip.

The Ducks freshman Mitchell Tolman was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Hitter of the Week and the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week last week. Oregon enters Ohio with several key hitters, including Tolman, Ryon Healy, who recently hit his 10th home run of the season.

Oregon turns to Pitcher Tommy Thorpe to start the series on Friday (4:05p PT , Big 10 Network), Cole Irvin on Saturday(12:05p PT and Jake Reed on Sunday(9:05a PT.)

Oregon Ducks This Week: