University of Oregon
3-1
Loyola Marymount
0-4
Offense Explodes In 12-3 Win At LMU
02/23/10 | Baseball
Los Angeles, Calif. – Oregon proved on Monday afternoon why the club may be worthy of its No. 25 ranking from Collegiate Baseball with a powerful offensive showing in a 12-3 win over Loyola Marymount at Page Stadium.
The Ducks, now 3-1, totaled 12 runs on 11 hits, while limiting the Lions, now 0-4, to three runs on seven hits.
Danny Pulfer led the way for Oregon with a 3-for-5 day, four RBIs and three runs scored. Senior center fielder Curtis Raulinaitis was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Jack Marder and and KC Serna also had multiple hit games.
Sophomore Scott McGough made his second appearance of this opening weekend coming on to get the final out of the sixth in relief of starter Zack Thornton. In his second UO career win, McGough pitched two and 1/3 innings, holding the Lions scoreless on one hit and one walk.
McGough entered the game at a pivotal point with the game even. LMU had the opportunity in the bottom of the sixth to break the 3-3 tie score after a second Serna error and an intentional walk from Thornton had Ryan Hawthorne at second and Matt Lowenstein sitting at first. But McGough was brought in to do the dirty work, getting a ground out from Alex Guthrie to send the game into the top of the seventh.
That was when the Ducks put things away with a four-run seventh inning. In fact, Oregon scored nine of its 12 runs in the final three innings after LMU starter Alex Gillingham exited the game with six innings under his belt.
With LMU freshman lefty Max Florer taking over on the hill, Oregon began to find success. Serna, after taking a foul ball off the shin, patiently waited out his at bat to lead off with a single back through the middle. Marcus Piazzisi then dropped a sacrifice bunt down the third baseline, but Shon Roe's throw from third tagged Piazzisi in the back allowing him to reach first safely, while Serna took two bases ending up at third.
In came right-hander Jordan McClintock, and Marder then dropped and infield single between Roe at third and Joel Licon at shortstop to load the bases with no outs for Eddie Rodriguez. The starting catcher cracked a sacrifice fly all the way to the wall in right bringing Serna home for the go ahead run.
Hambright was then intentionally walked to load the bases again, and Karraker smoked a ball that was chested down by Guthrie at first, allowing Piazzisi to score. Second baseman Jonathan Johnson was able to field the ricochet in time for Karraker to be thrown out at first. Pulfer then stepped up to the plate with two outs and two runners on, Marder and Hambright, and the Cypress, Calif., native sliced a two-run bases clearing single through the left side to give the Ducks a 7-3 lead.
Oregon added an additional run in the eighth as Raulinaitis led off the inning with a solo homer over the right field wall. It was the first of his career and the second of the season for the Ducks.
Oregon added four more runs in the top of the ninth when Pulfer laced his second two-run hit of the game. With the bases loaded and no outs, Pulfer's double into left center scored Rodriguez and Hambright as the Ducks took a 10-3 lead. Dylan Gavin came on to pinch hit and his groundout RBI scored Karraker, and the Ducks 12th and final run came across the board as Raulinaitis' RBI single scored Pulfer from third.
Matt Florer took the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run plus one without giving up an out. He allowed two runs on one hit while facing just two batters.
In the start, LMU's Gillingham pitched six innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks while striking out five.
Oregon starter Zack Thornton lasted five and 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three. In his first three innings of work, Thornton did not face a batter over the minimum.
Oregon junior right-hander Drew Gagnier pitched the ninth for the Ducks, retiring the side in order and striking out two.
Oregon took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second thanks to a nice piece of hitting from Serna. With runners on first and second and two outs against him, Serna laced a two-run double over the head of Jason Barmasse in right field. Pulfer had singled earlier in the inning and Raulinaitis was walked to reach base for the Ducks. Raulinaitis hustled from first on the play and slid just in time to beat the tag at the plate.
LMU scored its first run after in the bottom of the fourth after back-to-back singles from Johnson and Barmasse put runners on second and third with no outs. Matt Koch took advantage with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Johnson from third.
Thornton looked to be in good shape after coaxing a fly out to center from Hawthorne, but Roe then laced a triple to left center past a diving Raulinatis to score Barmasse and tie the game 2-2. LMU took the one-run, 3-2 lead when Lowenstein connected on a double down the left field line to score Roe from third.
Oregon tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the fifth after Piazzisi started things off with his first hit of the season, a one-out single up the middle. He moved to second on a ground out from Marder and scored when Johnson was unable to field Rodriguez's grounder. With Guthrie at first diving for the errant toss from Johnson at second, Rodriguez and Guthrie collided, allowing Piazzisi to score from second and Rodriguez to advance to second.
It was the fourth game in four days for both clubs, as the Ducks began their weekend with Cal State Fullerton (Friday), Long Beach State (Saturday) and Pepperdine (Sunday).
Loyola Marymount was swept by then No. 7 UC Irvine in three-game series before Monday's game with the Ducks.
The Ducks will fly to Hawaii tomorrow and begin a four-game series with the Rainbows on Thursday.
Notes: Oregon last scored 12 runs during a 12-3 win over Santa Clara on March 7, 2009…in four games the Ducks have totaled 32 runs on 39 hits…prior to Pulfer's effort today, the last Oregon player to record four RBIs in a game was KC Serna on March 24, 2009 vs. Sacramento State…also, Curtis Raulinaitis was the last Oregon player to score three runs in a game vs. Santa Clara on March 7, 2009.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McGough, Scott (1-0)
L: FLORER, M. (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Serna, KC 1 ; Marder, Jack 1 ; Rodriguez, Eddie 1 ; Pulfer, Danny 1
HR: Raulinaitis, Curtis 1
RBI: Serna, KC 2 ; Rodriguez, Eddie 1 ; Karraker, Mitch 1 ; Pulfer, Danny 4 ; Gavin, Dylan 1 ; Raulinaitis, Curtis 2
SH: Piazzisi, Marcus 1 ; Hambright, Ryan 1
SF: Rodriguez, Eddie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Serna, KC 1 ; Piazzisi, Marcus 2 ; Hart, Jett 1 ; Rodriguez, Eddie 1 ; Hambright, Ryan 2 ; Karraker, Mitch 1 ; Pulfer, Danny 2 ; Raulinaitis, Curtis 2
HBP: Mendenhall, Andrew 1 ; Marder, Jack 1 ; Rodriguez, Eddie 1
PO: Serna, KC 1
Batting:
2B: LOWENSTEIN, 1
3B: ROE, S. 1
RBI: KOCH, M. 1 ; ROE, S. 1 ; LOWENSTEIN, 1
SF: KOCH, M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: JOHNSON, J. 1 ; BARMASSE, J. 1 ; ROE, S. 1
CS: HAWTHORNE, R 1
