University of Oregon
2-0
Long Beach State
1-1
Oregon Makes It Two In A Row
02/21/10 | Baseball
Long Beach, Calif. – Oregon knocked off another perennial Division I powerhouse on Saturday night using some timely hitting in a 6-2 win over Long Beach State.
The Ducks are now 2-0 on the season and the Dirtbags fall to 1-1.
Oregon outhit Long Beach State 11-7, led by KC Serna's 3-for-4 performance while J.J. Altobelli, Jack Marder and Danny Pulfer also had multiple-hit days.
Similar to Friday's win at Cal State Fullerton, Oregon pieced together a three-run inning in the sixth to take a large lead. The Ducks went ahead 5-1 after the top of the sixth as Oregon began to knock around Long Beach State starter Andrew Gagnon.
Ryan Hambright was issued a one-out walk in the sixth, and moved to second on a slow infield dribbler sent to the shortstop from Pulfer. With two outs, Altobelli hammered a two-run double into right field and advanced to third as Long Beach State's defense tried to throw Pulfer out at the plate.
Curtis Raulinaitis then singled up the middle bringing Altobelli home for the inning's third run as the Ducks took a 5-2 lead.
Serna added an insurance run in the ninth, lacing a triple to deep right field. The relay throw from Dirtbag shortstop Devin Lohman was off the mark allowing Serna to score.
The Ducks escaped danger in the fifth as Oregon starter Justin LaTempa loaded the bases by hitting one batter and walking two others. Sophomore right-hander Alex Keudell then came on in relief of LaTempa with two outs and the bases loaded, forcing Derek Legg to knock one right back at Keudell. The Portland native came off the mound to field the easy dribbler and make the toss to first for the third out.
Oregon took the lead in the top of the fifth after trailing 1-0 thanks to some smart base running from Serna. Altobelli led off the inning with a single through the right side, and moved to second on a ground out from Raulinaitis. Altobelli tied the game when Serna laced his second double in as many games down the left field line. Serna then stole third and represented the go-ahead run with one out. Marcus Piazzisi's ground out RBI put the Ducks ahead 2-1.
LaTempa, who was making his first start in two years due to injury went 4 and 2/3 innings on the mound, surrendering one unearned run. He allowed three hits but issued four walks and hit three batters.
Keudell came on to claim the win, pitching three and 1/3 innings and allowing just one run on three hits while striking out two.
Although not a save situation with a four-run lead, Drew Gagnier came on in the ninth and helped the Ducks preserve the lead keeping Long Beach State scoreless on one hit.
Gagnon took the loss for Long Beach State allowing five runs on nine and three walks.
The Dirtbags stranded a run in the bottom of the third with Kellen Hoime standing at third and two outs on the board, but LaTempa got Brennan Metzger to pop up to Pulfer with a flare to shallow right.
Long Beach State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as after a one-out double down the left field line from Legg put a runner in scoring position. He later scored when Hambright fielded an infield drive at first that Tre Dennis put into play, but Hambright failed to get it out of his glove and was charged with the error.
Oregon had its first scoring opportunity in the top of the second after Eddie Rodriguez was walked and the Ducks put the hit and run on for Pulfer who dropped one into right leaving runners on the corners with only one out. Gagnon got out of the jam by striking out Altobelli and coaxing a fly out to left from Raulinaitis.
Notes: Freshman right fielder Jack Marder got the first hit of his collegiate career with a single back up the middle in the top of the first…George Horton now has a 41-32 record against LB State…KC Serna now has three extra-base hits in two games.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keudell, Alex (1-0)
L: Gagnon (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Serna, KC 1 ; Altobelli, J.J. 1
3B: Serna, KC 1
RBI: Serna, KC 1 ; Piazzisi, Marcus 1 ; Altobelli, J.J. 2 ; Raulinaitis, Curtis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Serna, KC 2 ; Hambright, Ryan 1 ; Pulfer, Danny 1 ; Altobelli, J.J. 2
SB: Serna, KC 1 ; Hart, Jett 1 ; Raulinaitis, Curtis 1
CS: Pulfer, Danny 1
Batting:
2B: Jones 1 ; Legg 1
RBI: Hoime 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones 1 ; Legg 1
CS: Hoime 1
HBP: Metzger 1 ; Casas 1 ; Hoime 1
