Bottom Of The Order Breaks Out

Friday, February 24

San Diego, Calif.

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

3-2

UC Irvine

3-2

Oregon

UC Irvine

02/24/17 | Baseball

Box Score

Oregon got big production from its Nos. 6-9 hitters in an 11-5 victory over UC Irvine in the Tony Gwynn Classic on Friday.

By: Rob Moseley

SAN DIEGO — The bottom of the order fueled three different big innings for the Oregon baseball team Friday, powering the Ducks (3-2) to a 10-5 victory over UC Irvine in the opening game of the Tony Gwynn Classic.

No. 9 hitter Daniel Patzlaff's two-run homer helped the Ducks fight back into a 3-3 tie in the fourth. The shortstop drove in another run in a three-run fourth, and No. 8 hitter Spencer Steer hit his first career homer during a four-run seventh that broke the game open.

How It Happened: The Anteaters (3-2) touched UO starter David Peterson for three runs in the first. But after the leadoff batter reached on an error in the second, Peterson settled in and retired 10 straight. And the bottom of the UO order picked him up time and again.

Tim Susnara got things going for the Ducks in the top of the fourth with a solo homer to right field. After freshman Gabe Matthews reached on his first career hit, Patzlaff came up two batters later and drove another homer even deeper toward the USD dormitories in right field.

"I got beat on a fastball in my first at-bat," Patzlaff said. "So I had an idea they might do that again. And I was on time."

The Ducks struck again in the fifth, when the first two batters walked. Matthews stroked a one-out, RBI single, Steer drove in another run with a double and Patzlaff made it 6-3 with a sacrifice fly.

The Anteaters scored again in the bottom of the fifth, a two-run homer that hit the top of the wall, then went off outfielder A.J. Balta's glove and over the fence as Balta tried to save the home run. But the Ducks tacked on four more in the seventh, with Steer's homer the big blow, and added another run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Steer.

Inside the Box Score: The Ducks' sixth through ninth hitters combined to go 10-for-18 with eight runs, 10 RBIs and five extra-base hits. … Matthews and second baseman Morgan McCullough each collected his first career hit. Matthew finished 4-for-5 and McCullough went 3-for-5. … Steer's four RBIs were the first of his young career. … Freshman James Acuna pitched the seventh, his third scoreless appearance through five games this season.

On Deck: The Ducks wrap up play in the Tony Gwynn Classic with a doubleheader Saturday. Cole Stringer (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will be on the mound for Oregon against Seton Hall at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Field at 10 a.m. Matt Mercer (0-1, 5.40) will take the ball for the Ducks against San Diego at USD's Fowler Field at 6 p.m. The Ducks and Toreros will meet again Sunday in a non-tournament game at 1 p.m.