Huskies Hit Three Homers To Win Series Opener

Friday, April 24

Eugene, Ore.

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

13-26, 3-10

Washington

16-22, 5-8

Washington

Oregon Ducks

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

04/25/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. - Washington hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning and never looked back in an 11-2 Pac-10 victory over Oregon on Friday afternoon at PK Park.

The Pac-10's home run leader, Kyle Conley, blasted the first home run of the contest and the 15th of his season over the wall in left to give the Huskies (16-22, 5-8) a three-run lead in the first. Three pitches later, Troy Scott crushed a solo shot off the light standard in right field to put Washington ahead 4-0.

Alex Keudell (0-4) took the loss for Oregon (13-26, 3-10), surrendering the back-to-back round-trippers and allowing five runs on four hits in 2 and 1/3 innings of work. The freshman right-hander was relieved by junior lefty Bennett Whitmore, who allowed six runs on eight hits in 3 and 2/3 innings on the mound.

Washington led 7-0 after four innings, adding a run in the second on Brendan Gardner-Young's RBI single, as well as two more runs in the fourth on a RBI double from Caleb Brown and a sacrifice fly from Jake Rife.

The Ducks finally answered in the bottom of the fifth when Jett Hart got ahead of the count against Washington starter Aaron West, and on a 2-0 pitch, drove his second triple of the season past a diving Conley into right center. Caleb Tommasini's groundout RBI brought Hart home from third for the Ducks first score of the game.

Tommasini also provided the RBI on Oregon's second run of the game in the seventh when his single to left scored Josh Hogan. Danny Pulfer was 2-for-3 at the plate.

West (2-0) held Oregon to just one run on five hits during his six innings on the mound. Tyler Cheney pitched three innings of relief and held the Ducks to one run on three hits to earn his first save of the year.

Zack Thornton was a bright spot for Oregon on the mound, pitching the final three shutout innings and allowing just one hit.

Oregon allowed three home runs in the game, with the third another three-run shot off the bat of Rife in the sixth. It was the most home runs Oregon has surrendered at PK Park this season.

Rife led UW with a 1-for-3 performance, four RBIs and two runs scored. Julien Pollard was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Gardner-Young was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. The Huskies totaled 13 hits in the game.

Oregon had eight hits in the contest and left nine runners on base while also hitting into three double plays.

The Ducks and Dawgs will play game two of this series tomorrow at PK Park with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Tickets are still available and can a be purchased at the PK Park ticket office 90 minutes before game time.

Saturday's game will be televised by the Oregon Sports Network on Comcast SportsNet Northwest (channel 37) and KEVU (channel 4).

Notes: Oregon is 1-4 against Washington in 2009...Jett Hart is now on a six-game hitting streak...Darrell Hunter hit the first double of his collegiate career in the eighth...Oregon allowed three home runs at California twice (April 17 & April 19).