Ducks drop opener at Fresno State

Saturday, February 18

Fresno, Calif.

6:05 PM

University of Oregon

0-1

Fresno State

1-0

Oregon

Fresno State

Photo by: Deborah Mundorff

02/18/17 | Baseball

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State used a big second inning and solid pitching to hand Oregon a 9-1 non-conference loss in the season opener for both teams at Bob Bennett Stadium on Saturday night.

How it Happened: The Bulldogs (1-0) jumped on Ducks' starter David Peterson in the second inning scoring five runs on seven hits while sending 10 batters to the plate. After retiring the Bulldogs in order in the first, the first four batters in the second inning got hits off Peterson to put Fresno State up 1-0. After a strikeout, Korby Batesole delivered a two-run single to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead. They added another run on a single by Ryan Dobson and a Peterson wild pitch to make it 5-0.

The Ducks (0-1) got one back in the top of the fifth. Junior shortstop Daniel Patzlaff launched his second career home run over the left field wall to cut the lead to 5-1.

FS pushed the lead back to five with a run in the top of the seventh off senior Cooper Stiles, and then added three more runs in the eighth on back-to-back home runs.

Freshman Invasion: Three freshmen (two true and one redshirt) were in the starting lineup for the Ducks in the season opener. Spencer Steer and Morgan McCullough, both true freshmen, started in the infield, while redshirt freshman Braden Stutzman started in right field. Steer, who played third, batted second, Stutzman hit sixth, and McCullough played second and batted eighth. True freshman James Acuna was the first arm out of the bullpen for the Ducks entering the game in the bottom of the fifth. Acuna didn't allow a run while giving up two hits in 1.1 innings. Another true freshman, Matthew Dyer pinch hit for Stutzman in the sixth inning and then stayed in the game in right field. True freshman Nico Tellache also made his Oregon debut getting the final two outs in the eighth.

On Deck: Because of Friday night's rainout, the Ducks and Bulldogs will play a doubleheader on Sunday with the first game scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m. The Ducks will send a pair of sophomores to the mound with right-hander Matt Mercer getting the start in game one and lefty Cole Stringer going in the nightcap.