Ducks win behind Yovan complete game two-hit gem

Friday, May 25

Eugene, Ore.

7:00 PM

University of Oregon

26-28, 12-17

Arizona

33-22, 13-16

Arizona

Oregon

Photo by: Deborah Mundorff

05/25/18 | Baseball

Box Score Game 54: Oregon 2, Arizona 1

EUGENE, Ore. – Kenyon Yovan threw a two-hit complete game to lead Oregon to a 2-1 win over Arizona Friday night at PK Park in Pac-12 Conference action.

How it happened: Yovan (6-4) wrapped up his first career complete game getting out of a no outs, bases-loaded jam, in the top of the ninth inning. Cameron Cannon reached on an error by shortstop Daniel Patzlaff to lead off the inning before Yovan hit back-to-back batters to load the bases.

Yovan fanned Cesar Salazar to get the first out of the inning. Salazar had hit a solo homer with two outs in the top of the seventh to break up Yovan's no-hit bid. The Ducks' pitcher then struck out Matt Frazier for the second out and got Jacob Blas to fly out to center field to end the game.

Oregon (26-28, 12-17 Pac-12) struck first scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth off Arizona (33-22, 13-16) starter Michael Flynn (6-5). Freshman Jonny DeLuca drove in Spencer Steer, who reached on a Salazar error, with a double to left-center field. The Ducks threatened to add more loading the bases with one out, but Flynn struck out Ray Soderman and Jason Drees back-to-back to end the inning.

Salazar tied the game in the seventh with his third home run of the series. Oregon came right back in the bottom half of the inning. Drees started the rally with a one-out single to left field. Alex Andranovich, pinch running for Drees, moved to second on a balk and came in to score on a Kyle Kasser two-out single to give Oregon the lead.

Minus the Salazar home run and the bases-loaded situation in the ninth inning, Yovan was dominant. He allowed just three walks and the second hit came on a swinging bunt by Frazier following Salazar's dinger. The Ducks' sophomore fanned six with three of those coming with runners in scoring position.

Quotable: Head Coach George Horton
On Yovan performance…
"He's our horse. He's a guy that wants the ball in a big moment. I think there's not many people in America that get out of the jam after they did everything leading up to that. It looked like it was a disastrous ninth and he found a way to get out of it. It just shows what kind of a mentality kid he is."

Kenyon Yovan, Sophomore, Right-Handed Pitcher
On the ninth inning…
"That ball was not coming out of my hand. That was my game to finish. Thank God it worked out in the end. Adversity happens. It's not how it happens, it's how you get out of it. Just staying between the years, staying with my approach. Coach told me in the dugout, 'stay with the pitch. Stay with yourself.' It worked."

Duck notes: Yovan's complete game was the first for the Ducks this season and the first since David Peterson's 20-strikeout game on April 28, 2017 … He moved into fourth on Oregon's single-season strikeouts list with 98, passing Cole Irvin (2016) and Jimmie Sherfy (2013) … Yovan has turned in a quality start in eight of his 10 starts … Kasser passed KC Serna for sixth on the Ducks' career at bats list with 591 … He recorded his 51st career multiple-hit game and is one shy of tying J.J. Altobelli (2010-13) for fourth-most all-time at Oregon … Patzlaff passed A.J. Balta (2014-17) for ninth-most career starts as a Duck with 140 ... Steer reached base for the eighth straight game.

On deck: Oregon will look to win the series on Saturday when the Ducks send Matt Mercer (5-6, 3.95) to the mound. The Ducks have won all six of their home series in 2018.