Ducks Open Pac-10 Play At Arizona Friday
03/26/10 | Baseball
THIS WEEK
Oregon (17-6), opens Pac-10 play this weekend with a three-game series at Arizona(18-4) .The Ducks are currently on a five-game winning streak after sweeping Nevada at PK Park last weekend, and defeating Southern Utah, 7-1, on Tuesday.
The Ducks have won 12 out of their last 13 games, dating back to a 7-2 victory at Fresno State on March 5. Following this weekend's series, Oregon will return home to host currently third-ranked Arizona State. The Sun Devils are ranked as high as No. 1 in two out of four national polls.
RADIO BROADCASTS/MEDIA
Over the radio airwaves, Jerry Allen will provide the play-by-play on KSCR 1320 AM in the Eugene/Springfield area for all three Arizona games this week.
The O-Zone will also offer a live audio feed of all three games. For fans who want a video feed, it can be found at www.arizonawildcats.com.
For Duck fans in Portland, Friday's game will be broadcast on KUIK 1360, while Saturday's and Sunday's broadcasts will be aired on Freedom 970 AM.
Live stats will be available for all three games at www.GoDucks.com.
O-ZONE: ONLINE VIDEO & AUDIO
Baseball fans can now watch Oregon baseball home games live on the O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com. All home games will offer live video and audio.
TICKETS
A reminder that single-game tickets for the 2010 season remain on sale. Duck fans can purchase tickets online by clicking HERE, over the phone by calling 1-800-WEB-FOOT, or in person at the Casanova Center Ticket Office.
PROMOTIONS
Oregon will return to PK Park on Thursday, April 1 to host a three-game series with defending Pac-10 champion Arizona State. The Sun Devils (20-0) are currently ranked No. 3 in the nation by Baseball America, while resting at the top of two other national polls.
The series opener will mark the first “Thirsty Thursday” night at PK Park with all drinks selling for $1.
QUICK HITS
• Oregon welcomes back five position starters from the 2009 squad; Curtis Raulinaitis, Danny Pulfer, KC Serna, Mitch Karraker and Jett Hart.
• The Duck pitching staff has 11 returners, including sophomore left-hander Tyler Anderson, who is expected to get the start the series on Friday night against Nevada.
• Oregon also welcomes 11 newcomers to the roster; eight freshmen and three juniors.
SCHEDULE NOTES
• Oregon opened 2010 on an eight-game road trip to southern California and Hawaii.
• The Ducks played 12 of their first 14 games on the road, but returned to play nine consecutive home games before opening up Pac-10 play.
• Five opponents (ARIZ, ASU, OSU, STAN, UCLA) on Oregon's 2010 schedule are currently ranked in at least one national poll.
• Oregon's longest home stretch of the season is nine games from Friday, March 12-Tuesday, March 23 as Seattle, Nevada and Southern Utah travel to Eugene.
• Believe it or not, UO's eight-game road trip to start the season is one of two on the year. Oregon will play eight-straight road games from Friday, April 9-Wednesday, April 21, traveling to Stanford, UCLA and Gonzaga.
• After Oregon's game at UCLA on April 18, the Ducks will play in the Northwest the remainder of the season playing 15 contests at PK Park while traveling to Gonzaga, Oregon State, Portland and Washington.
PAC-10 PLAY BEGINS
Oregon heads into Pac-10 play on a five-game winning streak, having taken 12 out of their last 13. UO has won its last three series with Fresno State (4-0), Seattle (3-1) and Nevada (4-0).
The Ducks have now swept two series in one season for the first time since 1972.
Oregon is hitting .282 on the season, but the team has been aided by its pitching staff. The Ducks have the second-ranked ERA in the country at 2.37, and three of UO's pitchers have ERAs that rank in the nation's top-40; Alex Keudell (1.10, 13th), Justin LaTempa (1.59, 34th) and Tyler Anderson (1.60, 35th).
In the nation and Pac-10, Oregon's ERA is second to only UCLA, while the Ducks' 179 strikeouts rank third in the conference.
Over the last 13 games, of which the Ducks have won 12, the offense has batted .300 led by senior Eddie Rodriguez. The Ducks' starting catcher is hitting .535 in UO's last 13 games with 19 RBIs, three doubles, and two home runs. KC Serna is batting .425 in that stretch with seven RBIs, nine runs scored and six stolen bases.
On the mound the pitching staff has a miniscule 1.86 ERA in the last 13 games, as opposing batters have been held to a .237 clip.
The staff has totaled 106 strikeouts, while Oregon batters have struck out just 50 times. Anderson (0.78) and Keudell (0.47) have allowed two earned runs or less in three starts apiece.
AT ARIZONA
Arizona (18-4) begins Pac-10 play on a 13-game winning streak.
The Wildcats, who swept the Ducks last season in the final series of the year, have swept three-game series with Northern Colorado and Sacramento State.
The Wildcats were rewarded this week ranked No. 19 by the Collegiate Baseball Top-30 poll, and No. 28 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top-30 poll.
The Wildcats are batting. 371 on the season and have three everyday starters hitting over .400; Robert Refsnyder (.475), Jett Bandy (.471) and Steve Selsky (.427).
Combined the trio have 67 RBIs, 20 doubles and five home runs.
On the mound, Arizona's pitching staff is managing a 3.91 ERA. The staff has totaled 184 strikeouts on the year and is holding opposing batters to a .265 clip. Right-hander Kurt Heyer, expected to make the Friday-night start against Oregon lefty Tyler Anderson, is 3-0 on the season with a 2.10 ERA.
STREAKING AT FIVE
Last week Oregon won its third series on the season and swept is second opponent, taking all four games from Nevada at PK Park. The Ducks kept that winning streak alive on Tuesday with a 7-1 victory over Southern Utah.
In Oregon's last five games, the Ducks are batting .304 from the plate led by Eddie Rodriguez, KC Serna and Marcus Piazzisi. Rodriguez has 10 RBIs in the Ducks latest winning streak, while batting .444. Serna is hitting .368 with eight runs scored and four stolen bases, while Piazzisi is batting .500 with five RBIs, seven runs scored and five walks.
On the mound, Oregon has a 2.51 ERA, striking out 38 while issuing just eight walks.
FRIDAY-NIGHT LIGHTS
Oregon Friday-night starter Tyler Anderson has been lights out for the Ducks this season. The Las Vegas, Calif., native is currently 4-1 on the season with a 1.60 ERA. The sophomore lefty has been victorious in his last three Friday-night starts against Fresno State, Seattle and Nevada. At one point, Anderson had tossed 21 scoreless innings for the Ducks.
In his last three starts, Anderson is 3-0 with a miniscule 0.78 ERA. In 23 innings on the mound over the last three weeks, Anderson has surrendered just two earned runs while fanning 25 batters and issuing only one walk. He has held batters to a .176 clip and has pitched in one combined shutout.
Anderson's 1.60 ERA ranks third in the Pac-10, and his staff-leading 36 strikeouts tie for sixth in the Pac-10.
In his second season as a full-time starter as just a sophomore, Anderson is holding opposing batters to a .183 clip. He has struck out 13 batters looking, a total that ranks third in the Pac-10.
18 AND COUNTING
Anderson isn't the only sophomore thriving on the mound. Last week sophomore right-hander Alex Keudell shut out the Wolf Pack for seven innings in the Ducks' 5-0 victory. The Portland native scattered four hits and walked two, while reaching a new career high with nine strikeouts.
In his last three starts, Keudell is 2-1, and in 19 innings on the mound has allowed just one earned run, while fanning 20. Keudell enters the weekend having not allowed an earned run in 18 consecutive innings on the mound.
On the year, Keudell's 1.10 ERA ranks first in the Pac-10 and 13th in the nation.
OREGON AND MARDER'S RECORD NIGHT
Last Friday night freshman Jack Marder put himself in the Oregon record book with an eight-RBI performance in the Ducks 16-2 rout of Nevada.
In front of a crowd of 2,774 – a season high – the Ducks tallied 12 runs in the first three innings as Nevada starter Tyler Graham exited the game in third after surrendering nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits in two and 1/3 innings.
Oregon's 16 runs were the most in the modern era, and the highest total for the program since a 16-4 win over Lewis & Clark on May 4, 1976; tying for ninth all-time in program history. The Ducks' 14 hits were the most for UO since a 7-2 win at Fresno State on March 5.
As Oregon led 12-0 in the seventh, Marder crushed his second homer of the season – a three run shot - over the wall in left center. Marder finished his day 3-for-5 with eight RBI – a new modern era record.
BACK BEHIND THE PLATE
Last year, Oregon lost starting catcher Eddie Rodriguez to a knee injury just a month into the season. The senior spent his summer focusing on rehabilitation and is now leading the Ducks' offense at the plate.
The Warden, Wash., native is hitting a team-best .437, a mark that ranks seventh in the Pac-10. The Ducks' clean-up hitter, Rodriguez leads the everyday starters with 21 RBI, a .577 slugging percentage and .481 on-base percentage.
LEADING OFF
Sophomore shortstop KC Serna has inserted himself into the leadoff spot of the Ducks' lineup. Serna is second on the roster batting .369 with a .413 on-base percentage. One of Oregon's quicker players on the team, Serna is 8-for-10 in stolen bases this year. He has 31 hits, 17 runs scored, five doubles, and 12 RBIs.
FRESHMEN PLAYING
Oregon head coach George Horton hasn't been shy about putting his true freshmen in the thick of things this season.
Horton has two true freshmen starting regularly on defense with Jack Marder now playing first base, and J.J. Altobelli at third base. Ryan Hambright and Steven Packard have each started 12 games apiece this year as well.
Altobelli is batting .284 in his rookie season, with 13 RBIs, 15 runs scored and five doubles. Marder is hitting .215, but has been struck at the plate six times this season. He has five extra-base hits with two home runs and three doubles, and has scored 13 runs on the year to go along with 13 RBIs.
Hambright has appeared in 21 games, making 12 of his starts at first base or designated hitter. The Corona, Calif., native is hitting .182 with eight walks and eight runs scored. Packard has made six starts at designated hitter and six in right field. The San Marcos, Calif., native is hitting .250, with five RBIs, three runs scored, three doubles and five walks.
ANDERSON NAMED TO WATCH LIST
Oregon Friday-night starter Tyler Anderson has been named to the College Baseball Foundation's Pitcher of the Year award watch list, it was announced Tuesday.
Anderson is one of 49 pitchers from across the country that was named to Tuesday's watch list. The Pitcher of the Year Award will be presented in Lubbock, Texas, on July 2 as part of the College Baseball Awards Show.
This is the second year the CBF will present the Pitcher of the Year Award.
Anderson is currently 4-1 on the season with a 1.60 ERA. The sophomore lefty has been victorious in his last three Friday night starts against Fresno State, Seattle and Nevada. At one point, the Las Vegas native had tossed 21 scoreless innings for the Ducks.
Anderson's 1.60 ERA ranks third in the Pac-10, and his staff-leading 36 strikeouts tie for sixth in the Pac-10. In his second season as a full-time starter as just a sophomore, Anderson is holding opposing batters to a .183 clip. He has struck out 13 batters looking, a total that ranks third in the Pac-10.
The Pac-10 leads the country with nine pitchers on the Baseball Foundation's Pitcher of the Year award watch list.
GAGNIER ON STOPPER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Oregon junior right-hander Drew Gagnier was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List.
Gagnier is one of 40 collegiate baseball players that have been named to the initial watch list for the sixth annual NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
The Santa Cruz, Calif., native was named Pac-10 Honorable Mention last season, and was drafted in the 14th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics, but chose to return to the University of Oregon for 2010.
The Ducks main closer in 2009, Gagnier appeared in 23 games and finished the year with a 2.70 ERA, a 1-0 record and 30 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched. He finished the year with seven saves, tying for sixth in the Pac-10.
TOP-25 RECRUITING
Oregon inked 12 players during the early signing period, and each signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the U of O for the 2010-11 academic year. All 12 newcomers are currently in their senior year of high school.
This is Oregon's third recruiting class since the reinstatement of the UO baseball program, and if history repeats itself, the 2010 graduating class should garner national honors like its predecessors.
Of Oregon's 12 signees, six rank among the top-200 high school prospects for 2010, including three of the country's top-50 ranked prospects, according to PerfectGame Crosschecker.
For two consecutive years, Oregon's recruiting classes have earned top-25 accolades. The Ducks' 2009 class, brought in for the program's first season in 28 years, was ranked No. 2 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball's annual evaluation, and was also ranked 10th in the nation by Baseball America's evaluation.
The Ducks' second class received the No. 24 ranking in the nation from Baseball America earlier this fall.
CIVIL WAR CLASSIC
Tickets are also currently on sale for The Civil War Classic presented by RBC Wealth Management. First pitch is set 6:30 p.m. from PGE Park in Portland on Wednesday, May 26.
Tickets, which range in price from $5-$35, are available at www.ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster locations.
PK PARK
Oregon's newest facility opened to 2,609 fans on March 2 as UO defeated Washington, 6-2. The park has full locker rooms, clubhouses and team amenities, as well as a state-of-the-art video board and a classic inning by inning score board.
The park has specially designed lighting structures. There is a landscaped area for food and hospitality and even a fan interaction area. There is a student seating area to enhance the intimacy for the Oregon baseball team and spectators.
Eugene architect firm Cameron, McCarthy, Gilbert & Scheibe was the lead landscape architectural firm on the first phase of construction. Larry Gilbert is leading the project.
“We have designed PK Park with all the features and amenities necessary to help the University of Oregon baseball program quickly establish itself as a regular on the 'Road to Omaha'. The Ducks' passionate fans will find their new ballpark to be one of the best places in the country to cheer on their favorite team,” said Greg Garlock, Designer and Principal with DLR Group.
PK Park has a total capacity of 4,000, including 3,000 fixed seats, a tiered party plaza named “Fowl Territory”, a picnic plaza and eight upper level suites.
FieldTurf
The field is made of an all-weather base-ball specific FieldTurf, with clay mounds and bullpens. FieldTurf is the leading provider of collegiate baseball synthetic turf. The company has been installing similar products at college ballparks around the country.
History
2008 – On August 15, 2008 The University of Oregon announced that work has begun on the construction of a new baseball park. PK Park is named after Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny for his leadership, vision, support, and commitment to the University of Oregon. It was projected to cost $15-$18 million.
2009 – Baseball returns to the University of Oregon. In the team's first game at the park on Feb. 27, the Ducks beat Fresno State, the defending national champions in front of a sellout crowd.
