Huge Inning Fuels Ducks' Win

Saturday, April 16

Eugene, Ore.

2:00 PM

University of Oregon

16-12, 6-5

USC

15-18, 5-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
USC	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	0	8	9	0
Oregon	1	7	0	1	1	0	1	1	X	12	13	2

04/17/16 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

Photo: Eric Larriva

EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon scored seven runs in the second inning to spark a 12-8 win over USC and secure a series victory against the Trojans in front of a season-high 2,613 fans on Saturday at PK Park.

How It Happened: With Oregon trailing 3-1, Carson Breshears and Travis Moniot led off the second inning with a pair of walks, moved up on a bunt single by Austin Grebeck and scored on a two-run double by A.J. Balta to tie the game 3-3. After a walk to Jake Bennett, Steven Packard gave the Ducks a 5-3 lead with a two-run single. Tim Susnara followed with a bunt base hit to load the bases, and Daniel Patzlaff promptly unloaded them with a three-run double to left-center field to round out the Ducks' biggest inning of the season.

Oregon (16-12, 6-5 Pac-12) tacked on runs in the fourth and fifth to push its run total to double digits for the fifth time this season. Back-to-back doubles by Packard and Susnara brought home a run in the fourth, and Moniot hit his second home run in as many days in the fifth to extend the Oregon lead to 10-3.

The Trojans got two runs in the sixth on an RBI double by Timmy Robinson and a wild pitch later in the inning that brought him in to score. Balta got a run back for the Ducks in the seventh, scoring Moniot with a sacrifice fly. USC tried to mount a comeback in the eighth, scoring three runs to make it 11-8 before Brac Warren ended the inning with a strikeout to leave the tying run at the plate. Nick Catalano drove in an insurance run with a pinch-hit single in the eighth before Stephen Nogosek secured the Oregon win with a scoreless ninth inning.

USC (15-18, 5-6 Pac-12) took an early lead in the first inning when Robinson sent a 1-2 pitch from Cole Irvin over the left field fence for a two-run home run. The Trojans added one more in the inning on an RBI double to go up 3-0. The Ducks got one back in the bottom half, with Grebeck leading off with an infield single and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Bennett to make it 3-1.

Entire Lineup Contributes In Win: All nine of Oregon's starters reached base, and eight Ducks checked in with base hits. Balta and Patzlaff each finished with three RBI, while Packard drove in two. Grebeck, Balta, Packard, Susnara and Moniot all had two hits in the win, and Moniot led the team with three runs scored. The Ducks were 8-for-17 (.471) with runners in scoring position.

Irvin Battles Through Seven: After allowing three runs on three hits in the first, Irvin settled down and retired 12 of the next 14 hitters to keep the Trojans off the board through the fifth. USC got two runs in the sixth on a pair of hits, but Irvin again regrouped and threw a perfect seventh inning to secure his third win of the season. Irvin finished the day allowing five runs on six hits with five strikeouts over seven innings.

Record Book Watch: Irvin's win was the 17th of his career, moving him into a tie for eighth on the Oregon career list. Irvin also moved into fourth in innings pitched (256.2) and 10th in career strikeouts (162). Balta's two RBI gives him 15 career multiple-RBI games, good for ninth in program history. Packard needs just one double and one multiple-RBI game to move into the top-10 in both categories, and Grebeck currently sits at seventh with 67 career walks.

Notable: Moniot's fifth inning home run was his third of the season, moving him into a tie for second on the team … The Ducks worked eight walks against the Trojans, marking the 12th time this year Oregon has walked five or more times and the third game with eight walks or more … Warren and Nogosek combined to throw 1.1 scoreless innings after shutting the Trojans down over the final 2.1 innings in Friday's win.

On Deck: Oregon will try and complete the three-game sweep of USC at noon on Sunday at PK Park. The Ducks will send left-hander David Peterson (2-2, 1.30) to the mound, while the Trojans will counter with right-hander Kyle Davis (2-5, 5.40).