Walk-Off Win Gives Ducks Series Sweep

Sunday, May 13

Eugene, Ore.

12:00 PM

University of Oregon

25-24, 11-13

Utah

13-35, 6-18

Utah

Oregon

Photo by: Deborah Mundorff

05/13/18 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 4, Utah 3

Kyle Kasser scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth Sunday to give the Oregon baseball team a 4-3 victory and a series sweep of Utah.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Kyle Kasser's fourth run of the afternoon gave Oregon baseball a 4-3 walk-off win Sunday, and a series sweep of Utah before 1,135 fans in PK Park.

The Ducks (25-24, 11-13 Pac-12) clawed their way back above .500 for the season with their first series sweep of the spring, and their first in conference play since taking three from USC in 2016. "To get a sweep, it feels good," said Kasser, the Ducks' senior second baseman. "Going into the last six games, at least giving ourselves a chance."

How It Happened: A walk, a stolen base and a fielder's choice put Kasser at third base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth Sunday. Utah reliever Trenton Stoltz threw a pitch low and inside to Jonny DeLuca that got past the catcher to the backstop, and Kasser came home with the game-winning run.

Kasser ended the day 2-for-4, scoring after each of his final four plate appearances. He came home on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the fourth, a fielding error in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in the seventh before scoring on the wild pitch in the ninth.

"He was obviously our catalyst today," UO coach George Horton said. "We made the most out of not very much."

Kasser also picked himself up after his error in the sixth allowed Utah (13-35, 6-18) to take a brief lead. UO starter Kolby Somers had settled down after allowing two runs on four straight Utes hits to open the third, but Kasser's error in the sixth allowed a baserunner who ultimately scored on a hit by the first batter faced by UO reliever Parker Kelly.

After allowing that hit, Kelly retired eight straight before handing the ball off to Ryne Nelson, who pitched around a leadoff hit in the ninth. Oregon's run in the bottom of the ninth made a winner of Nelson (3-1).

The Utes opened the third by going double, single, RBI single, RBI single off Somers, who struck out only one on the day but fought through 5.1 innings to give the Ducks a chance. Oregon got a run back in the fourth when Kasser led off with a single and later scored when Gabe Matthews was hit with the bases loaded. In the fourth, Kasser was on second when Spencer Steer grounded a hot shot to shortstop; Kasser took third on the apparent fielder's choice, then scored when the throw was mishandled at first.

In the seventh, with Utah up 3-2 thanks in part to his error, Kasser blasted a one-out triple to right-center off former UO pitcher Kyle Robeniol. Steer followed with a line drive to right-center, with Kasser scoring the game-tying run on the sacrifice fly.

"I think that speaks volumes about our team, finding a way to get the job done," said Kasser, whose game-winning run was Oregon's 15th of the weekend with two outs, of 23 total.

Kasser Moving Up Record Lists: Kasser finished the three-game series with three hits, giving him 174 for his career, two behind Aaron Payne for fifth all-time at Oregon. The four runs scored Sunday gave Kasser five for the weekend, moving him into eighth in UO history, one behind Ryon Healy. And Kasser now has 76 career walks, tied for sixth in school history.

"I've been scuffling a bit, so it was nice to get on base, help us out," he said.

On Deck: The Ducks open a three-game series at UCLA on Friday. All three games will be on Pac-12 Networks, at 4 p.m. on Friday, 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and noon Sunday.