Stavert Deals Eight Strikeouts in 3-2 Win Over UCLA

Friday, May 1

Eugene, Ore.

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

14-29, 4-12

UCLA

20-22, 11-8

Bruins

Oregon Ducks

Photo by: Tod Fierner

Stavert Deals Eight Strikeouts in 3-2 Win Over UCLA

05/02/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. ? Another spectacular outing from junior Erik Stavert coupled with some offensive production from Oregon's bats led the Ducks to a 3-2 series opening victory over UCLA on Friday afternoon at PK Park.

Stavert (5-3) picked up his fifth win of the season by pitching eight innings of one-run baseball and allowing just six hits while dealing eight strikeouts.

With the victory, the Ducks improve to 14-29 on the season and 4-12 in the Pac-10 Conference, snapping a seven-game losing streak.

The Bruins, winners of 10 of their last 14 heading into the weekend, fall to 20-22 on the year and 11-8 in the Pac-10.

The Ducks offense worked to manufacture three runs on the day executing some small and forcing miscues from UCLA's defense.

After three scoreless innings as both starting pitchers worked their way through the lineups, Oregon finally got to UCLA starter Gerrit Cole.

Oregon junior left fielder Curtis Raulinaitis led off the bottom of the fourth driving his team-leading ninth double of the year off the wall in right, and moved to third on KC Serna's deep fly out to left. With the game's first run just 90 feet away, freshman Paul Eshleman sent a slow dribbler toward the right side that Bruin second baseman Eddie Murray failed to field cleanly, allowing Raulinaitis to cross the plate, giving the Ducks a 1-0 advantage.

The Ducks then manufactured another run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-0 lead. Caleb Tommasini led off the sixth with a single to center and moved into scoring position on Raulinaitis' sacrifice bunt. Serna then surprised UCLA's defense by dropping a bunt toward third and beating the throw in a race to first while Tommasini moved to third.

With one out and runners on the corners, Serna took off for second putting himself in a rundown with UCLA's infield. The pickle eventually forced an errant throw from Murray, allowing Tommasini to make his move from third and score Oregon's second run.

UCLA cut the Ducks' lead in half in the top of the seventh when Gabe Cohen sliced a one-out double down the left field line. The left fielder eventually moved around to score the Bruins first run when Niko Gallego laced a RBI double in front of a diving Raulinaitis in left.

In the top of the eighth it looked as if UCLA might tie the game or take the lead when Stavert struck the leadoff batter and surrendered an infield single to Blair Dunlap, putting runners on the corners with one out. Stavert regrouped quickly, tossing his seventh and eighth strikeouts of the game to Cody Decker and Casey Haerther.

In the bottom of the eighth, it was again Tommasini's work to get on base that added what proved to be the game-winning run for the Ducks. Oregon's starting center fielder was hit by Cole's offering and advanced all the way to third when Cole fielded Raulinaitis' sacrifice and threw over Decker at first base.

With no outs and Tommasini and Raulinaitis safe on the corners, Serna came to the plate and sent a high pop up to shallow right. The pop up turned into a sacrifice fly as Tommasini used his speed to tag up and score from third.

Cole (4-4), a first-round 2008 MLB Draft selection of the New York Yankees, took the loss allowing three runs ? one earned ? on six hits while striking out four.

The Bruins added a run in the top of the ninth as Oregon closer Drew Gagnier came on to close things out for Stavert. Gagnier struck out the first two batters and was one strike away from ending the game before walking Gallego. Two batters later Murray's RBI single to left scored Gallego, but Gagnier held on for his seventh save of the season by striking out Dunlap.

Eshleman was 2-for-4 for Oregon, while Haerther led the Bruins with a 2-for-4 day as well.

Oregon and UCLA will play the second game of their Pac-10 series at 11 a.m., Saturday from PK Park as part of the Ducks Fan Festival.

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

Parking for all events is a suggested donation of $2 per vehicle, with all proceeds directed towards the Todd Doxey Foundation. The Autzen Stadium parking lot will open at 9 a.m., with all vehicles directed to enter the lot via Entry 4 and 5 off of Leo Harris Parkway.

Notes: This was the first meeting between the UCLA and Oregon baseball programs since May 24, 1979...the was the first time the Bruins played baseball in Eugene since May 9, 1969...the Ducks last defeated UCLA , 3-2, on March 26, 1975 in L.A...the Bruins lead the all-time series 11-3...Oregon junior Curtis Raulinaitis hit his team-leading ninth double of the year...this was Erik Stavert's third straight start where he pitched at least eight innings and struck out at least eight...the Ducks last seven-game losing streak was snapped with a 5-3 victory on April 18 at Cal...Stavert tossed eight innings and struck out eight in that game as well, while Gagnier also picked up the save.