Serna And Healy Deliver In 6-1 Victory

Sunday, March 27

Eugene, Ore.

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

14-9

Wichita State

17-8

Wichita State

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

03/28/11 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE – In the first start of his collegiate career, Oregon freshman Ryon Healy delivered, and with the bases loaded, junior KC Serna returned the favor driving in what proved to be the game-winning run as the Ducks defeated Wichita State 6-1 on Sunday at PK Park.

With the victory, Oregon (14-9) evened the series with Wichita State (17-8) at two games apiece, as the Ducks played their final non-conference series of the year. Oregon will begin Pac-10 play Friday at sixth-ranked Arizona State.

Making just one relief appearance on the mound this season, Healy earned his first start for the Ducks on Sunday. The West Hills, Calif., native allowed just one run in five and 2/3 innings on the mound, striking out five and issuing two walks. He was denied the win as right-hander Alex Keudell came on in the top of the sixth to secure the final out after Healy surrendered the first run of the ball game to the Shockers.

Oregon avenged Wichita State's solo run in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs on seven hits in the bottom of the sixth. The Ducks batted around in the inning, as Shawn Peterson recorded the first hit to lead off the inning, and also was the final out.

For the third time in the game, Oregon loaded the bases, but this time, the Ducks were able to break through.

Peterson got the inning started with a single to center, followed by a J.J Altobelli bunt down the third the baseline that Wichita State's Tyler Coughenour bare handed but could not make the throw to first. Andrew Mendenhall loaded the bases with a shallow single to center that dropped in.

KC Serna then drove a two-run double into left field that plated Peterson and Altobelli as the Ducks took a 2-1 advantage. Danny Pulfer 's bunt single caused Wichita State starter Charlie Lowell to come off the mound, but the lefty couldn't get the ball out of his glove as runners were safe at first and second with one out, and Mendenhall scored UO's third run.

Freshman Aaron Jones – the current Pac-10 Player of the Week – then drove a two out single to right center, scoring Serna as Oregon's advantage increased to 4-1.

Lowell was then pulled in favor of right-hander Grant Muncrief. Wichita State's new pitcher then gave up a RBI single to freshman Kyle Garlick as Pulfer came around to score and the Ducks went ahead 5-1.

Lowell (4-3) took the loss for Wichita State, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks.

The Ducks totaled 11 hits, as Serna was 2-for-4 with two runs driven in and Jones was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Garlick also added two hits and an RBI for Oregon, as all but two position starters recorded a hit on the day.

Oregon added its sixth run in the bottom of the eighth as Jones' RBI single to center plated Jack Marder .

Keudell (3-2) closed the game and earned the win for the Ducks, retiring the final 10 batters of the game. The Portland native tossed three and 1/3 shutout innings and struck out two. Keudell came on in relief coming off tossing a complete game at San Francisco on Wednesday.

Wichita State's Chris O'Brien scored the Shockers only run when Coughenour's infield single careened off the glove of an outstretched Altobelli, allowing O'Brien to score the game's first run from second.