Oregon Rally Falls Short In 6-3 Loss To Dawgs

Sunday, April 26

Eugene, Ore.

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

13-28, 3-12

Washington

18-22, 7-8

Washington

Oregon Ducks

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

04/27/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. ? Oregon brought the game-tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but it was too little too late as the Ducks fell 6-3 to Washington on Sunday afternoon at PK Park.

With the win, Washington (18-22, 7-8) sweeps the Pac-10 series with Oregon (13-28, 3-12), and finishes the season series 6-1 against the Ducks.

Trailing 6-0, Oregon staged a late comeback posting three runs in the eighth off Washington reliever Geoff Brown. Darrell Hunter reached base after being hit, and Josh Hogan executed a bunt down the first baseline for a base hit to put runners on first and second. Two batters later, senior Caleb Tommasini drove a bases-clearing, two-out, two-run triple off the right field wall. Pinch hitter Antony Kreitz plated Tommasini with an RBI single to center for the Ducks third run.

In the bottom of the ninth, a pair of freshmen in Paul Eshleman and Hunter started a two-out rally reaching base on back-to-back singles into left field. With the game-tying run at the plate in Colby Sokol, Washington closer Brian Pearl struck out the freshman to end the game and pick up his sixth save of the season.

Similar to Friday's game, Oregon gave up three home runs to the Huskies, while similar to Saturday's game, the Ducks had trouble putting runners aboard against UW starter Andrew Kittredge.

The freshman right-hander (2-3) held Oregon scoreless for seven innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five. Kittredge pitched seven innings of shutout baseball before Brown started the eighth on the mound and surrendered three runs to the Ducks.

Washington took an early lead in the top of the first. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and second for the Huskies, before Jacob Clem laced a two-out, bases-clearing double off the wall in left, plating Jake Rife and Kyle Conley for a 2-0 advantage.

After giving up two runs early, Oregon starter Tyler Anderson shut out the Huskies for the next four innings, seeing just one batter over the minimum during that stretch and holding the Huskies hitless with one walk.

But for the second time in the series, Washington put the game out of reach in the sixth with back-to-back home runs to take a 5-0 advantage. Conley, the Pac-10's home run leader, hit a two-run blast off the scoreboard in center field for his 16^th round-tripper of the season, followed by Troy Scott's solo shot over the right field wall on the first pitch delivered by Anderson.

The Huskies added another run in the seventh when David Bentrott sent a solo homer over the wall in right on the second pitch offered by Oregon reliever Geoff Nichols.

Anderson (2-5) took the loss for the Ducks after surrendering five runs on five hits in six innings while striking out four.

The Ducks didn't have a runner in scoring position until the fifth as Kittredge faced the minimum through the first four innings.

Oregon matched Washington hit-for-hit as each team had eight in the game. The Huskies had four extra-base knocks with three home runs (Conley, Scott, Bentrott) and one double (Clem). The Ducks had two hits for extra bases in Tommasini's triple and a double from Hogan.

Hogan went 2-for-3 for Oregon, while Conley led the Huskies with a 3-for-5 performance including two RBIs and two runs scored.

In addition to Nichols, Ryan Fleckenstain, Madison Boer, Scott McGough and Drew Gagnier all appeared in relief.

Oregon returns to action on Tuesday at Oregon State in a non-conference game slated to start at 5 p.m. from Goss Stadium. The Ducks will then host UCLA in a three-game Pac-10 series beginning at 1 p.m. Friday at PK Park.

Notes: Caleb Tommasini hit his third triple of the season...the Ducks were swept in a weekend series for the second time the season...Oregon loses the season series with UW 1-6.