Ducks Drop Series In Another Extra-Inning Thriller

Saturday, May 8

Corvallis, Ore.

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

30-17, 10-10

Oregon State

23-17, 6-11

Oregon Ducks

Oregon State

Danny Pulfer, Baseball 2010 vs. Seattle, March 13, 2010 Eric Evans

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

Ducks Drop Series In Another Extra-Inning Thriller

05/09/10 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Another extra-inning thriller ended poorly for No. 15 Oregon as the winning run crossed the plate on a wild pitch leading Oregon State to a 4-3 victory in 11 innings on Saturday afternoon at Goss Stadium.

With the loss, the Ducks fall to 30-17 on the season and an even 10-10 in Pac-10 play. The Beavers, who clinched the series in Saturday's victory, improve to 23-17 on the year and 6-11 in league play.

Oregon had won four straight series before dropping Saturday's game to the Beavers. The Ducks had not last lost a series since dropping 2-of-3 to Arizona fState from April 1-3.

The Ducks outhit the Beavers 13-6, but left 14 runners stranded through 11 innings – one short of a season high.

OSU held Oregon scoreless through eight innings and led 3-0 when the Ducks staged a three-run rally in the top of the ninth.
Marcus Piazzisi led off the inning with a single to right off OSU reliever Kriag Sitton, and J.J. Altobelli's sacrifice bunt moved Piazzisi to second. The Ducks chose to pinch hit Nick Wagner, and the freshman drove a RBI single to center as Piazzisi scored UO's first run. That spelled the end for Sitton as Kevin Rhoderick was brought on.

The right-hander walked KC Serna and then surrendered a RBI single through the left side to Danny Pulfer, scoring Wagner and leaving runners on the corners and one out for Marder. The freshman pulled back on a bunt attempt on Rhoderick's first offering, but Serna had already taken off from third getting caught in a 252625 rundown for out No. 2. With the Ducks trailing 3-2 and Pulfer at third after moving around the bases on the run down, Marder laced a RBI triple over the head of Aldaberto Santos in center to score the game-tying run.

Rhoderick then struck out Eddie Rodriguez to keep the game tied headed into the bottom of the ninth.

The Ducks left the bases loaded in the 11th after freshman Andrew Mendenhall led off the inning with a double. OSU lefty reliever Matt Boyd plunked Marder and intentionally walked Rodriguez to load the bases with two outs, but Dylan Gavin hit into a fielder's choice for out three.

Oregon State took advantage in the bottom of the inning as Andrew Susac singled off UO reliever Alex Keduell. Ryan Barnes pinch ran for Susac, and moved to second on Rob Folsom's single. The Ducks brought right-hander Joey Housey on the mound, and Tyler Smith put a slow roller in play that pulled Housey off the mound. His throw to first pulled Marder off the bag as Smith loaded the bases on the error. A wild pitch then got past Rodriguez as Barnes scored the game winner unearned.

Boyd improved to 5-1 and was credited with the win after holding Oregon scoreless on one hit and one walk.

Keudell (4-5) took the loss after allowing one unearned run on two hits.

The Ducks went through five relief pitchers in the game as Madison Boer, Christian Jones, and Drew Gagnier pitched as well.

Oregon starter Justin LaTempa tossed seven innings allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits, one walk and five strikeouts.

Oregon State starter Tanner Robles lasted three and 2/3 innings, holding the Ducks scoreless on two hits and two walks.

Pulfer, Marder, Rodriguez and Paul Eshleman all had two hits apiece as the Ducks totaled 13 hits on the afternoon.

Six batters were plunked in the game, as Oregon State hit Marder twice as well as Shawn Peterson and Altobelli, while UO's pitching staff hit Santos and Stephen Romero.

Oregon had leadoff runners on in 8-of-11 innings, but only scored on one of those opportunities – in the ninth.

In the bottom of the first, Romero drove his second home run in as many days over the wall in left center as the two-run round tripper gave OSU a 2-0 advantage. It was the third baseman's 11th home run of the season.

In the bottom of the third, Oregon State added a run as Santos led off with a base hit to left. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, before LaTempa plunked Romero putting runners on first and second for Danny Hayes. A fly out to right from Hayes advanced Santos to third, putting runners on the corners for Susac. A foul fly ball was dropped by Marder, and the inning was extended on the error. Santos then put the Beavers ahead 3-0 scoring from third on a wild pitch. Susac was eventually retired to right for the third out.

Oregon had a golden opportunity to put runs on the board in the second as the Ducks had the bases loaded with one out on a leadoff single from Rodriguez, a walk issued to Steven Packard and a plunked batter in Peterson. But Altobelli struck out looking, and Jett Hart was retired on a fly out to center as UO left three stranded early on.

The series finale is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch from Goss Stadium on Sunday. The game will be televised by the Oregon Sports Network on Comcast SportsNet Northwest. Joe Giansante will serve as the play-by-play announcer and Jim Wilson as the color analyst.

Notes: Oregon is now 8-5 vs. left-handers…the Ducks are 1-2 this season against Oregon State and 2-7 against the Beavers since reinstatement…Nick Wagner recorded his second plate appearance and first hit and RBI against Pac-10 competition…the Ducks are now 1-3 in extra-inning games this season…the Ducks are now 2-8 in games decided by one run in 2010…the Ducks have now lost three Pac-10 series and four overall on the season…Oregon is on a three-game losing streak, tying its longest of the season.