Oregon Ducks Bullpen Falters In Loss To Washington

The Oregon Ducks entered the game against Washington on Friday night at 6-6 in the month of April and were in need of a good start to the three game series against the Huskies. Washington was two games ahead of Oregon in the Pac-12 Standings entering Friday night and an Oregon sweep would flip the teams and possibly flip the script on the Ducks season which has had more downs than ups in 2015.

Cole Irvin would take the mound in Game 1 and get out of the first inning with minimal damage giving up a hit. Mitchell Tolman would get on base with a hit and two outs before getting caught stealing second base to end the inning. The Ducks struck again in the second scoring a run as Brandon Cuddy came through with an RBI double.

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Irvin would walk the first two batters to start the top of the fourth inning as Levi Jordan and Braden Bishop put men on first and second with no outs. Right Fielder Jack Meggs came to the plate looking to capitalize and laid down a bunt loading the bases with Huskies for Designated Hitter Austin Rei. Irvin would get to two out befor giving up a hit to Alex Schmidt and the Huskies had a 2-1 lead. Jakob Goldfarb made a run saving catch to end the top of the third in Left Field.

Braden Bishop made the play of the night for the Washington Huskies had a single up the middle that was mishandled by Brandon Cuddy allowing Bishop to work a triple. It was a close play at third as Mitchell Tolman was unable to handle the throw and as the ball rolled away from him Bishop came around to score making it 3-1 Washington. It was the type of play you shake your head at, but then again it was the perfect play to sum up the Ducks season so far. Schmidt would add an RBI single to make it 4-1 before Irvin would get out of the inning with a flyout to center by Chris Baker. Washington would add another run in the top of of the sixth inning.

Mitchell Tolman would come through with a double to right field and one out scoring two for Oregon making it 5-3 Washington. The Ducks would have two on base when Mark Karviotis came to the plate four hitters later, but he would strikeout, Oregon would add a run in the inning cutting into the Huskies lead 5-4.

Washington would storm back in the top of the seventh with three runs going through two Oregon Ducks Relief pitchers in the process before Brock Warren struck out Branden Berry. Oregon would need to mount a big comeback. It would not happen in the bottom of the seventh. The top of the eighth saw Washington load the bases twice before Oregon was able to get out of it. The Huskies added three runs in the inning.

The Huskies would tack on two more runs in the top of the ninth before Austin Rei would hit a pop fly to left field which was bobbled by the Oregon Defense. The Ducks Relief pitching, which had been the most solid part of their team this season fell apart in Game 1 of the series against the Washington Huskies giving up six runs in the loss. The Ducks and Huskies would be back at it on Saturday at 7:30pm Pacific Time on Pac-12 Networks.

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