Tuesday, April 18
Portland, Ore.
5:00 PM
University of Oregon
9
at
10
Portland
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Ducks drop heartbreaker at Portland
04/18/23 | Baseball
EUGENE, Ore. — Portland scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to rally to a 10-9 win over Oregon at Joe Etzel Field on Tuesday night.
Tanner Smith added the career RBI record to his resume in his first bat driving in a pair on a double for his 138th and 139th RBI. The Ducks' left fielder broke the record of 137 set by Gabe Matthews (2017-2021).
How It Happened: Oregon didn't waste any time jumping in front with four first-inning runs. After a one-out Colby Shade single and walks by Drew Cowley and Sabin Ceballos, Smith pulled a double down the right-field line plating both Shade and Cowley for a 2-0 lead. After another out, Bennett Thompson made it a four-run game with a two-run double into the left-field corner.
Oregon (24-11) extended the lead on the first pitch of the second inning. Gavin Grant lined his sixth home run of the season over the left-field wall.
Portland (20-16) answered with one on three seeing-eye singles in the bottom of the second, but Oregon got that run back in the fourth. Sabin Ceballos slugged a solo homer over the left-center field wall giving the Ducks third baseman a home run in three straight games and four of Oregon's last five games.
The Pilots mounted a comeback scoring four runs, three unearned thanks to a pair of Ducks errors, in the bottom of the sixth and another run in the seventh to tie it.
Oregon regained the lead in the eight scoring when Grant hit his second home run of the game. The Ducks tacked on another run in the inning after Rikuu Nishida doubled and scored on a Ceballos bases-loaded walk.
The Ducks tacked on a run in the top of the ninth to give them a three-run lead. Bennet Thompson doubled and came around to score on a Portland throwing error.
The Pilots rallied with one out in the ninth. A hit, walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before a fielder's choice plated a run for the Pilots. Then with runners at the corners, pinch hitter Justin Tsukada delivered a two-run double to tie the game.
It went from bad to worse for the Ducks when Grant dropped what would have been an inning-ending pop out allowing Tsukada to score the winning run.
Box Score Notes: Smith now owns seven Oregon career records (hits, runs, doubles, RBI, at-bats, Multiple-hit games in addition to four single-season records (Hits, doubles, at-bats, multiple-hit games) … Colby Shade stole his 25th career base in the first inning moving into a tie with Sam Novitske (2019-22) for 10th on the Oregon all-time list … He swiped two more in the second inning moving him into a tie with Smith, Dean Roberts (1972-75), Jim Pifher (1956-68) and George Shaw (1952-55) for sixth all-time … Josh Mollerus took the loss while trying to pick up a two-inning save … Mollerus fanned the first four batters he faced before allowing the four runs … He had gone 19 innings without giving up a run before the ninth.
Up Next: The Ducks continue their four-game road trip with a three-game series at California that starts on Friday.
Tanner Smith added the career RBI record to his resume in his first bat driving in a pair on a double for his 138th and 139th RBI. The Ducks' left fielder broke the record of 137 set by Gabe Matthews (2017-2021).
How It Happened: Oregon didn't waste any time jumping in front with four first-inning runs. After a one-out Colby Shade single and walks by Drew Cowley and Sabin Ceballos, Smith pulled a double down the right-field line plating both Shade and Cowley for a 2-0 lead. After another out, Bennett Thompson made it a four-run game with a two-run double into the left-field corner.
Oregon (24-11) extended the lead on the first pitch of the second inning. Gavin Grant lined his sixth home run of the season over the left-field wall.
Portland (20-16) answered with one on three seeing-eye singles in the bottom of the second, but Oregon got that run back in the fourth. Sabin Ceballos slugged a solo homer over the left-center field wall giving the Ducks third baseman a home run in three straight games and four of Oregon's last five games.
The Pilots mounted a comeback scoring four runs, three unearned thanks to a pair of Ducks errors, in the bottom of the sixth and another run in the seventh to tie it.
Oregon regained the lead in the eight scoring when Grant hit his second home run of the game. The Ducks tacked on another run in the inning after Rikuu Nishida doubled and scored on a Ceballos bases-loaded walk.
The Ducks tacked on a run in the top of the ninth to give them a three-run lead. Bennet Thompson doubled and came around to score on a Portland throwing error.
The Pilots rallied with one out in the ninth. A hit, walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before a fielder's choice plated a run for the Pilots. Then with runners at the corners, pinch hitter Justin Tsukada delivered a two-run double to tie the game.
It went from bad to worse for the Ducks when Grant dropped what would have been an inning-ending pop out allowing Tsukada to score the winning run.
Box Score Notes: Smith now owns seven Oregon career records (hits, runs, doubles, RBI, at-bats, Multiple-hit games in addition to four single-season records (Hits, doubles, at-bats, multiple-hit games) … Colby Shade stole his 25th career base in the first inning moving into a tie with Sam Novitske (2019-22) for 10th on the Oregon all-time list … He swiped two more in the second inning moving him into a tie with Smith, Dean Roberts (1972-75), Jim Pifher (1956-68) and George Shaw (1952-55) for sixth all-time … Josh Mollerus took the loss while trying to pick up a two-inning save … Mollerus fanned the first four batters he faced before allowing the four runs … He had gone 19 innings without giving up a run before the ninth.
Up Next: The Ducks continue their four-game road trip with a three-game series at California that starts on Friday.
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball2024-25 Oregon Baseball Intro Video
Thursday, June 12
Oregon Baseball | Eugene Regional | Postgame vs. Cal Poly
Saturday, May 31
Oregon Baseball | Eugene Regional | Postgame vs. Utah Valley
Saturday, May 31
Grayson Grinsell & Jacob Walsh | NCAA Selection Show
Monday, May 26
