Saturday, May 12
Eugene, Ore.
2:00 PM
University of Oregon
24-24, 10-13
13
vs
1
Utah
13-34, 6-17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Utah
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
8
1
Oregon
1
0
0
0
0
1
5
6
X
13
15
0
Photo by: Deborah Mundorff
Mercer dominates, Ducks rout Utah
05/12/18 | Baseball
EUGENE, Ore. – Matt Mercer struck out a career-high 10 batters and the Oregon offense exploded for 11 combined runs in the seventh and eighth innings en route to a 13-1 Pac-12 Conference win over Utah on Saturday afternoon at PK Park.
How it happened: Mercer (5-5) was dominant from the get-go getting two of his 10 strikeouts in the first inning. He added strikeouts in every inning he pitched, except the second. He fanned three in the fifth and two in the seventh, while scattering five hits over seven innings with just two walks.
Oregon (24-24, 10-13 Pac-12) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jakob Goldfarb led off with a single and came around to score on a Kenyon Yovan sacrifice fly.
Utah (13-34, 6-17 Pac-12) tied the game with a run off Mercer in the fourth. Back-to-back one out singles put runners on the corners for Davis Delorefice who delivered a sacrifice fly.
The Ducks retook the lead with a run in the sixth inning. Jonny DeLuca walked, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by catcher Shea Kramer. Ray Soderman picked up the go-ahead RBI with a double over the third-base bag.
The Ducks broke it open in the seventh scoring five runs on four hits and two walks, all coming with two outs. Kyle Kasser and Spencer Steer started the rally with back-to-back walks before Yovan drove in a run with a single to left field. DeLuca followed with a RBI single to right, Gabe Matthews drove in a pair with a triple off the center-field wall and Soderman finished it with a RBI single up the middle.
Oregon wasn't done as it added six runs in the eighth on five hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch while sending 11 batters to the plate. After Ryne Nelson walked and Goldfarb singled, Kasser moved both runners into scoring position with a ground out to the first baseman. Steer doubled inside the first-base bag to drive in two runs and give Oregon a 9-1 lead.
Pinch-hitter Taylor Travess singled to put runners on the corners for DeLuca, who picked up a RBI with a ground out to second base. Matthews made it 11-1 with a RBI double scoring Travess from second. After Braden Stutzman and Daniel Patzlaff each walked to load the bases, pinch hitter Jason Drees doubled scoring two.
Cullen Kafka pitched the final two innings in relief of Mercer and struck out two Utes.
Quotable: Head Coach George Horton
On the win…
"Yeah, it got contagious there, in the good way. I thought the story of the game was the pitching and catching, Mercer and Soderman. I thought Soderman played a fantastic game, that clutch hit he got, that double to extend the lead. But I thought Mercer was as good as he's been for as long as I can remember."
On Matthews' day…
"Yeah hopefully he's heating up, he had a long battle with non-Gabe-like at bats, and it's been gradually getting better and better. He's starting to get back to where he was which is good for Gabe and good for us."
Duck Notes: Oregon scored five or more runs in back-to-back innings for the first time in modern era program history … It was the Ducks' second-highest run total of the season … Matthews turned in his fourth three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-5 … He also drove in three runs for the second time this season … Matthews' seventh inning triple was the second of his career … Goldfarb recorded his team-leading 18th multi-hit game of the year and third three-hit game, finishing 3-for-5 … Steer drew a career-high three walks … He also drove in multiple runs for the 21st time in his career, moving into fifth place alone all-time at Oregon … Mercer turned in his eighth quality start of the season.
On deck: Oregon will look for the sweep on Sunday when the Ducks and Utes meet at noon. Freshman Kolby Somers (2-6, 4.20) will pitch for Oregon while the Utah counters with senior Josh Lapiana (2-3, 7.82). Lapiana is 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA in two starts against the Ducks during his career.
How it happened: Mercer (5-5) was dominant from the get-go getting two of his 10 strikeouts in the first inning. He added strikeouts in every inning he pitched, except the second. He fanned three in the fifth and two in the seventh, while scattering five hits over seven innings with just two walks.
Oregon (24-24, 10-13 Pac-12) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jakob Goldfarb led off with a single and came around to score on a Kenyon Yovan sacrifice fly.
Utah (13-34, 6-17 Pac-12) tied the game with a run off Mercer in the fourth. Back-to-back one out singles put runners on the corners for Davis Delorefice who delivered a sacrifice fly.
The Ducks retook the lead with a run in the sixth inning. Jonny DeLuca walked, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by catcher Shea Kramer. Ray Soderman picked up the go-ahead RBI with a double over the third-base bag.
The Ducks broke it open in the seventh scoring five runs on four hits and two walks, all coming with two outs. Kyle Kasser and Spencer Steer started the rally with back-to-back walks before Yovan drove in a run with a single to left field. DeLuca followed with a RBI single to right, Gabe Matthews drove in a pair with a triple off the center-field wall and Soderman finished it with a RBI single up the middle.
Oregon wasn't done as it added six runs in the eighth on five hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch while sending 11 batters to the plate. After Ryne Nelson walked and Goldfarb singled, Kasser moved both runners into scoring position with a ground out to the first baseman. Steer doubled inside the first-base bag to drive in two runs and give Oregon a 9-1 lead.
Pinch-hitter Taylor Travess singled to put runners on the corners for DeLuca, who picked up a RBI with a ground out to second base. Matthews made it 11-1 with a RBI double scoring Travess from second. After Braden Stutzman and Daniel Patzlaff each walked to load the bases, pinch hitter Jason Drees doubled scoring two.
Cullen Kafka pitched the final two innings in relief of Mercer and struck out two Utes.
Quotable: Head Coach George Horton
On the win…
"Yeah, it got contagious there, in the good way. I thought the story of the game was the pitching and catching, Mercer and Soderman. I thought Soderman played a fantastic game, that clutch hit he got, that double to extend the lead. But I thought Mercer was as good as he's been for as long as I can remember."
On Matthews' day…
"Yeah hopefully he's heating up, he had a long battle with non-Gabe-like at bats, and it's been gradually getting better and better. He's starting to get back to where he was which is good for Gabe and good for us."
Duck Notes: Oregon scored five or more runs in back-to-back innings for the first time in modern era program history … It was the Ducks' second-highest run total of the season … Matthews turned in his fourth three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-5 … He also drove in three runs for the second time this season … Matthews' seventh inning triple was the second of his career … Goldfarb recorded his team-leading 18th multi-hit game of the year and third three-hit game, finishing 3-for-5 … Steer drew a career-high three walks … He also drove in multiple runs for the 21st time in his career, moving into fifth place alone all-time at Oregon … Mercer turned in his eighth quality start of the season.
On deck: Oregon will look for the sweep on Sunday when the Ducks and Utes meet at noon. Freshman Kolby Somers (2-6, 4.20) will pitch for Oregon while the Utah counters with senior Josh Lapiana (2-3, 7.82). Lapiana is 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA in two starts against the Ducks during his career.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mercer, Matt (5-5)
L: Tedeschi, Josh (1-9)
Batting:
2B: Cruz, Isaac 1
RBI: Delorefice, Davis 1
SF: Delorefice, Davis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gulden, Wade 1
HBP: Tom, Rykker 1 ; Foscalina, Dominic 1
Batting:
2B: Kasser, Kyle 1 ; Steer, Spencer 1 ; Matthews, Gabe 1 ; Soderman, Ray 1 ; Drees, Jason 1
3B: Matthews, Gabe 1
RBI: Steer, Spencer 2 ; Yovan, Kenyon 2 ; DeLuca, Jonny 2 ; Matthews, Gabe 3 ; Soderman, Ray 2 ; Drees, Jason 2
SF: Yovan, Kenyon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Goldfarb, Jakob 2 ; Kasser, Kyle 1 ; Steer, Spencer 2 ; Travess, Taylor 2 ; DeLuca, Jonny 2 ; Matthews, Gabe 2 ; Stutzman, Braden 1 ; Nelson, Ryne 1
SB: Goldfarb, Jakob 1 ; DeLuca, Jonny 1
HBP: Nelson, Ryne 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
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H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
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