UW's Walk-Off Homer Defeats Ducks

Friday, May 21

Seattle, Wash.

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

35-19, 10-12

Washington

27-24, 10-12

Oregon Ducks

Washington

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

05/22/10 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

SEATTLE – Chase Anselment's walk-off two-run homer ended an 11-inning, four-hour plus marathon on Friday night at Husky Ballpark as Washington claimed a 13-11 victory over No. 22 Oregon.

The Ducks (35-19, 10-12) five-game winning streak was snapped with the loss, and Oregon has now lost four consecutive Pac-10 games dating back to May 7 at Oregon State.

Washington improves to 27-24 on the season, and 10-12 in league, as the Huskies, Ducks and Arizona Wildcats are in a three-way tie for sixth place in the Pac-10 standings.

Oregon sophomore Joey Housey (3-2) took the loss after starting the bottom of 11th on the mound, and surrendering the two-run round-tripper to Anselment. He was the sixth pitcher to appear for the Ducks.

In the bottom of the 11th, Washington's Eric Peterson reached second on a dropped fly ball out in center field, before Anselment launched his walk-off home run over the wall in right to clinch a come-from-behind victory for the Huskies.

Washington trailed 7-5 entering the bottom of the ninth after the Ducks took their two-run lead by scoring three in the top of the seventh. Oregon reliever Scott McGough had pitched two scoreless innings and put UO in position for the win as the Ducks were just three outs away.

But the Huskies staged a ninth-inning rally as McGough allowed back-to-singles. A Pierce Rankin bunt attempt moved the runners over on a sacrifice, and a throwing error from J.J. Altobelli at third allowed Doug Cherry to score and Caleb Brown to move to third.

With runners on the corners and no outs, Julien Pollard's sacrifice fly tied the game as Brown scored from third. The Ducks brought freshman lefty Christian Jones on to try and move the game into extra innings.

With Andy Smith in the game pinch-running for Rankin at second, Jacob Kwan came in to pinch hit, and drove a single to right that looked like it might win it for the Huskies. Washington sent Smith around third, but UO right fielder Andrew Mendenhall's throw to the plate was online and Ducks catcher Eddie Rodriguez hung onto the ball despite a collision to make the tag for out three.

The Ducks looked poised to finally clinch the victory after unleashing a four-run inning in the top of the 10th as Shawn Peterson led things with a double to right field off Washington reliever Ben Guidos. Altobelli's sacrifice bunt off reliever Forrest Snow moved Gavin – pinch running for Peterson – to third, setting up Jett Hart's RBI bunt single to put Oregon ahead.

KC Serna continued the rally with a single to left and moved to second as Washington threw home, expecting Hart to move past third. With runners occupying second and third, Snow intentionally walked Marcus Piazzisi. Danny Pulfer then drove a bases-clearing double down the left field line on Snow's first offering as the Ducks took an 11-7 lead.

Jones started the 11th on the mound for Oregon and retired the first batter, but a hit a batter and a single, combined with a fielding error in the outfield put runners on second and third with one out. The Ducks looked to Drew Gagnier for the save, but he surrendered a two–run double to Cherry, followed by a two-run homer to Brown as the Huskies tied the game, 11-11.

Oregon was held scoreless in the top of the 11th by right-hander Andrew Kittredge before Anselment launched his sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the inning.

Kittredge (7-5) was credited with the win after holding the Ducks scoreless on one hit.

Washington starter Adam Cimber allowed four runs – one earned – in six innings on the mound, while UO starter Tyler Anderson tossed 5 and 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on nine hits while fanning nine.

Washington's 13 runs were the most Oregon has surrendered to an opponent this season, while the Huskies 20 hits were the most the Ducks have allowed since reinstatement.

Cherry led UW with a 4-for-5 day with two RBIs and four runs scored, while Brown was 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Oregon freshman Steven Packard was 3-for-4 with two doubles and one run scored, while KC Serna was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a RBI.

In the top of the first, Serna took the second pitch Cimber had to offer, and hammered his third home run of the season over the left field wall on a 1-0 count to lead off the game. It was the first time an Oregon player led off the game with a home run since Caleb Tommasini completed the same feat at Nevada on March 14, 2009.

Piazzisi, Hart, Pulfer and Peterson also had two hits apiece for the Ducks.

Oregon returns to Husky Ballpark for game two of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Oregon Sports Network will be broadcasting the game on Comcast SportsNet Northwest with Joe Giansante and Dwight Jaynes on the broadcast.

Notes: Oregon freshman Jack Marder has not been cleared for the series after suffering a concussion last Friday in a 5-0 win over ETSU at PK Park…Serna was the first Oregon player to lead off the game with a homer since Caleb Tommasini at Nevada on March 14, 2009…Ducks are now 1-4 in extra-innings…20 hits surrendered is a new modern era high…the Ducks also allowed a season-high 13 runs.