Oropesa's Walk-Off Tops Ducks 3-2

Thursday, April 9

Los Angeles, Calif.

6:30 PM

University of Oregon

12-18, 2-5

USC

15-14, 5-5

Oregon Ducks

USC

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

04/10/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

LOS ANGELES - Facing a 2-2 count and with the game on the line, USC's Ricky Oropesa hammered a walk-off home run over the right field wall to give the Trojans a 3-2 victory on Thursday night at Dedeaux Field.

Oropesa was the first batter to walk into the box in the bottom of the ninth for USC, hitting his solo home run off Oregon reliever Ryan Fleckenstein and opening the three-game series in favor of USC.

Fleckenstein came on in the eighth to claim the final two outs of the inning after both teams' starters left the contest with things knotted at 2-2.

Oregon freshman Tyler Anderson and USC junior Brad Boxberger gave up separate two-run innings while pitching scoreless baseball the rest of their respective time on the mound. Anderson was the first to surrender his two-spot when USC (15-14, 5-5) first tagged him in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff walk came back to haunt the left-hander.

USC's Mike O'Neill took his free base to lead off the fourth and scored the first run of the game when Anthony Vasquez laced a RBI double to the wall in right field. After providing the first RBI of the game, Vasquez was ushered across the plate by Oropesa's RBI single up the middle, giving the Trojans a 2-0 lead.

Oropesa finished his day 2-for-4 with two RBI.

In the sixth Oregon (12-18, 2-5) tied the score after Boxberger had pitched 5 and 1/3 innings of no-hit baseball. Oregon right fielder Jett Hart finally broke things up with a double to right center. Caleb Tommasini took first after being hit by a pitch, leaving runners at first and second with one out for Curtis Raulinaitis. His shallow blooper to center fell in front of Garret Houts and brought Hart across the plate. Eddy Rodriguez followed with another RBI single, this time a shallow hit to right, scoring Tommasini and tying the game at 2-2.

Raulinaitis finished his day 2-for-4 with one RBI.

The Ducks had the opportunity to score the go-ahead runs with the bases loaded and two outs with Mitch Karraker at the plate in the sixth, but Boxberger was able to deal his seventh strikeout of the game to keep the game even.

Anderson worked his way out of trouble in the bottom of the sixth. After striking out the first two batters, the right-hander surrendered a single and issued two free bases on a base on balls and hit by pitch to load the bags. He coaxed Oropesa to fly out center to end the inning without letting a run cross the plate.

Anderson finished his day allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six. Fleckenstein took the loss with the only hit he allowed in his 2/3 inning of work being Oropesa's game winner.

Boxberger went eight innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks, while dealing eight strikeouts. Daniel Cooper (1-0) pitched the ninth for USC, registering the win and retiring the side to set Oropesa's game winner.

The series resumes tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Dedeaux Field. Fans can listen to the broadcast on KUGN 590 or the O-Zone. Live stats will also be available on www.GoDucks.com.