Stavert Strikes Out Eight In Oregon's 5-3 Victory

Saturday, April 18

Berkeley, Calif.

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

13-22, 3-8

California

17-19, 4-10

Oregon Ducks

California

Photo by: Tod Fierner

04/18/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

BERKELEY, Calif. - Junior Erik Stavert pitched eight innings of two-run baseball, and Oregon crushed a pair of home runs in its 5-3 victory over California on Saturday at Evans Diamond.

The Ducks (13-22, 3-8) snapped a seven-game losing streak and evened the weekend series with the win, as Stavert (4-2) - in front of family and friends - held the Bears to five hits while striking out eight in his longest outing of the year. The Livermore, Calif., native was just three outs away from a complete-game shutout when Cal's Blake Smith sent a two-run homer over the wall in left center in the bottom of the ninth, bringing the score within 5-2..

After Smith's homer, Cal (17-19, 4-10) continued its comeback as Oregon brought on Ryan Fleckenstein and Drew Gagnier to finish the game, but both relievers put runners on by issuing one walk apiece. For the third time in the game, junior Jett Hart''s defense came up huge, as the right fielder ran down a line drive in the gap to keep runs off the board. Gagnier struck out Chad Bunting for the second out, but a wild pitch allowed Danny Oh to score the Bears third run. Brett Jackson then grounded out to Oregon second baseman Danny Pulfer to end things.

Freshman Darrell Hunter gave Oregon a 2-0 lead it never relinquished in the top of the second, hammering a two-run homer over the wall in right. The Springfield native fooled everybody, swinging and making full contact with Chris Petrini's 3-0 offering. The first baseman's round-tripper was the first of his collegiate career, and brought home Antony Kreitz, who doubled off the wall in right center two batters prior.

Oregon added a third run in the fifth when a leadoff walk issued to Scott McGough from Petrini paid dividends for the Ducks. McGough moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt put down the first baseline from Hart, and was brought home when Caleb Tommasini returned an RBI single into center field.

Petrini (1-3)took the loss and left the game early finishing his day allowing three runs on five hits in 4 and 2/3 innings of work. Matt Flemer pitched 4 and 1/3 innings of relief, allowing two runs on four hits.

KC Serna then became the second Oregon freshman to go yard in the game, taking a solo shot to left center in the top of the sixth off Flemer. It was the Ducks' starting third-baseman's team-leading third homer of the year.

The Ducks added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Curtis Raulinaitis' RBI squeeze bunt allowed Hart to score the Ducks' fifth run.

Stavert got in some trouble in the bottom of the fourth, sandwiching a single between two walks. With the bases loaded and only one out in his favor, Stavert escaped the inning by coaxing Oh to line out to Hart in right field, while his laser throw was online to catcher Paul Eshleman, catching Mark Canha trying to tag up from third.

In the eighth, Stavert had runners on the corners with two outs, when Hart's defense played another assist, catching Canha's long drive up against the wall in right.

In addition to his defense, Hart was 2-for-3 on the day with two stolen bases, while Serna also tallied two hits..

The series finale and rubber game is set for 1 p.m., Sunday at Evans Diamond. The Ducks will then travel to UC Irvine for games on Monday (6 p.m.) and Tuesday (2 p.m.) against the third-ranked Anteaters.