University of Oregon
33-18
East Tennessee State
29-23
Karraker's Walk-Off Seals Oregon Victory
05/16/10 | Baseball
EUGENE, Ore. – Mitch Karraker's walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth capped No. 22 Oregon's come-from-behind, 7-6, victory over East Tennessee State on Saturday night at PK Park.
With the tying run already across the plate in Andrew Mendenhall, speedster Jett Hart was sitting at second representing the game-winning run. Karraker lined a walk-off single into left as Hart took off early from second, scoring easily as the Ducks not only won the game – but the series as well.
Oregon, now a three-game winning streak, improves to 33-28 on the year, while ETSU drops to 29-23 in 2010. The series win was the eighth for the Ducks in 2010.
Oregon trailed 6-5 entering the ninth, but sophomore right-hander Madison Boer held ETSU scoreless in the top of the inning thanks to a little help from his defense. A base knock had one runner on with two outs, and Andrew Green looked to be the Buccaneers' second base runner with a single to right. But Grenn got a little greedy and tried stretching his single into a double, as right fielder Steven Packard's throw to second was on the mark as shortstop Scott McGough put down the tag.
In the bottom of the ninth, Paul Eshleman led things off with a single off ETSU reliever Bo Burton. Mendenhall came in to pinch run, and Packard moved him over on a sacrifice. Shawn Peterson then came to the plate and tied the game, knocking Mendenhall home with a RBI single to right.
Hart came into the game to pinch run for Peterson, moving to second as Burton walked Dylan Gavin. That set up Karraker's pinch-hit walk-off RBI single to left.
Boer (3-1) was credited with the win for the Ducks after tossing 1 and 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Boer came on to record the final out of the eighth after the Buccaneers had scored three runs to take a 6-5 lead.
Burton (7-5) was credited with the loss after allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. The right-hander had held UO scoreless for 4 and 2/3 innings before surrendering the game-tying and winning runs.
ETSU starter Ben Booker allowed five runs – four earned - on 10 hits in 3 and 2/3 innings before Burton came on in the fourth to retire the final batter of the inning.
Eshleman was 3-for-5 to lead Oregon, while Danny Pulfer, Eddie Rodriguez, Gavin and McGough had two hits apiece.
Oregon scored four runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead as Danny Pulfer and Marcus Piazzisi led things off with a double and triple, respectively. Eddie Rodriguez had an RBI fielder's choice, while Eshleman produced a two-run double before Gavin came through with an RBI single as the Ducks led 4-0.
The Ducks' added a solo run in the third as Scott McGough's RBI single plated Gavin. It was the first RBI of McGough's collegiate career as the shortstop went 2-for-3 with a walk – recording his first multiple-hit game.
Oregon starter Justin LaTempa surrendered three consecutive hits in the top of the fourth that led to a three-run inning for ETSU. With two runners on, Bo Reeder took a 0-2 pitch over the fence in right center, cutting Oregon's lead to 5-3.
With LaTempa still on the mound, the Buccaneers took a 6-5 lead with a three-run inning in the eighth. The senior right-hander loaded the bases with a single and two walks, before his outing was ended.
Joey Housey then came on in a sticky situation. With the bases loaded and one out, Housey had 6-foot-5 Paul Hoilman to worry about at the plate, as the Golden Spikes Award nominee leads the country in home runs and RBI.
Hoilman hit into a RBI fielder's choice as Micahel Gonzales scored and Matthew Scruggs was thrown out at third. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Derek Trent then lined a two-run single into right field as Green and Hoilman came around to score and the Buccaneers took a 6-5 advantage.
Boer came on in relief of Housey and surrendered an infield single before striking out Jamie Crawford for the final out of the inning.
LaTempa finshed his outing tossing 7 and 1/3 innings and allowing six runs on six and two walks, while striking out six.
The series finale ends tomorrow with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Senior right-hander Zack Thornton is expected to start for Oregon, and right-hander Chas Byrne is expected to start for ETSU.
SUNDAY • MAY 16 • 1 P.M.
O Heroes Day
Student-athletes from the University of Oregon will be in attendance at Sunday's game, and on hand to sign autographs. The first 96 fans through the gate will receive a free pint of Umpqua ice cream on Sunday Sundaes, while the first 750 fans will receive the second series of UO baseball cards sponsored by PEPSI.
Parent's Day/Student Promotion
Students can get their parents $5 tickets by bringing them to the ticket window and showing their UO Student ID. A free barbecue for UO students and their parents will take place down the third baseline, next to the student bleacher section.
Notes: Scott McGough made his first start at shortstop since April 19, 2009 at California…he recored the first RBI and multiple-hit game of his career…the Ducks won their eighth series of the season...Oregon rallied for a victorius ninth-inning comeback for the
fourth time in 2010.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Boer, Madison (3-1)
L: BURTON, Bo (7-5)
Batting:
HR: REEDER, Bo 1
RBI: HOILMAN, Paul 1 ; TRENT, Derek 2 ; REEDER, Bo 3
SH: BETTERSON, Cory 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GREEN, Andrew 1 ; HOILMAN, Paul 2 ; TRENT, Derek 1 ; REEDER, Bo 1 ; GONZALEZ, Michael 1
PO: GREEN, Andrew 1
Batting:
2B: Pulfer, Danny 1 ; Eshleman, Paul 1 ; Packard, Steven 1 ; McGough, Scott 1
3B: Piazzisi, Marcus 1
RBI: Piazzisi, Marcus 1 ; Rodriguez, Eddie 1 ; Eshleman, Paul 1 ; Peterson, Shawn 1 ; Gavin, Dylan 1 ; McGough, Scott 1 ; Karraker, Mitch 1
SH: Packard, Steven 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pulfer, Danny 1 ; Piazzisi, Marcus 1 ; Rodriguez, Eddie 1 ; Eshleman, Paul 1 ; Mendenhall, Andrew 1 ; Hart, Jett 1 ; Gavin, Dylan 1
SB: McGough, Scott 1
CS: McGough, Scott 1
HBP: Rodriguez, Eddie 1
