Oregon Blanks Nevada, 3-0, Behind Whitmore Gem

Saturday, March 14

Reno, Nev.

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

8-7

Nevada

5-10

Oregon Ducks

NEVADA

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

03/15/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

RENO, Nev. -- Bennett Whitmore pitched eight innings of shutout baseball and Oregon's power bats came to life for the second time in as many days, lifting the Ducks to a 3-0 victory over host Nevada at Peccole Park on Saturday.

Whitmore (1-2), making his fourth start of the season, scattered seven hits, walked none and struck out eight for his first win at the Division I level. The left-handed junior transfer from Fresno City College appeared to get stronger as the game wore on, striking out four batters - all swinging - over his final two innings of work.

Closer Drew Gagnier pitched the ninth, allowing a single and a walk on the way to his second save of the season.

The Ducks (8-7) had two home runs for the second day in a row, with Caleb Tommasini and Paul Eshleman picking up solo shots for their first round trippers of the season. Tommasini hit UNR (5-10) starter Chris Garcia's first pitch of the game over the left field fence.

Eshleman, getting the call at designated hitter in his first collegiate start, took the Wolf Pack lefty deep with one out in the seventh for the Ducks' final run.

Garcia (0-3) pitched well enough to win on most days, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over 7 2/3. He struck out two.

A pair of doubles in the fourth led to Oregon's second run. Eddy Rodriguez laced a one-out pitch to left-center field and came home on a flare down the left field line by Mitch Karraker that was played into an extra base hit by Nevada left fielder Nick Melino.

Oregon will throw right-hander Madison Boer (1-1, 3.27 ERA) in Sunday's finale, which is scheduled for 1 p.m.

QUACK TRACKS: Danny Pulfer made his first start at third base and has played second base, shortstop and third so far in the series ... The Ducks have won 5 of 6 and two straight on the road for the first time this season ... Oregon now has 8 HR as a team - the same total that the Ducks have allowed ... Each of UO's top four starters now has at least one win this season ... Rodriguez and Mitch Karraker led the Ducks with two hits apiece ... Both of Rodriguez's knocks were doubles ... Of UO's nine hits in the game, six went for extra bases ... At 2 hours 31 minutes, the game was Oregon's quickest of the season ...