Ducks win Pac-12 opener at Cal

Friday, March 17

Berkeley, Calif.

7:05 PM

University of Oregon

12-4, 1-0

California

8-8, 0-1

Oregon

California

03/17/17 | Baseball

Box Score

BERKELEY, Calif. – David Peterson was masterful again while Oregon's offense came up big with 12 hits in Friday night's 7-1 Pac-12 Conference win at Evans Diamond.

How it Happened: Peterson (4-1) held the Golden Bears scoreless while scattering nine hits in six innings in the Pac-12 opener for both teams. The Ducks' lefty fanned eight while walking just one in picking up a win in his fourth straight start. Peterson continued his domination running his total to 38 strikeouts in the last three games while walking just two.

The Ducks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the third. Jake Bennett drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly scoring Daniel Patzlaff. Matthew Dyer made it 3-0 with a bases-loaded bad-hop single off third baseman Denis Karas to score Kyle Kasser and Gabe Matthews.

Oregon (12-4, 1-0 Pac-12) added two more runs in the fifth to push the lead to 5-0. With the bases loaded, Tim Susnara drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Spencer Steer added a two-out run-scoring double.

Cal (8-8, 0-1 Pac-12) cut the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Brac Warren struggled out of the bullpen loading the bases with no outs. Cooper Stiles came on in relief and got a pair of fielder's choice groundouts, one of which drove in a run. Closer Kenyon Yovan relieved Stiles with two outs and struck out leadoff hitter Jonah Davis to end the inning.

The Ducks tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Jake Bennett led off the inning with a solo home run, his first career long ball. One hitter later, A.J. Balta homered to give UO a 7-1 lead. The home run was the first of the season for Balta and the 13th of his career.

Yovan pitched a scoreless ninth picking up his sixth save. He struck out three in 1.1 innings.

Pitching prowess: Peterson has struck out 38 batters in his last three starts, the most in a three-game stretch by a Duck's pitcher since the return of baseball. Peterson has fanned one more than current Colorado Rockies pitcher Tyler Anderson did during the 2011 season … Cal's run in the eighth inning snapped Oregon's streak of 44 innings without allowing an earned run.

Inside the box score: Kasser picked up his eighth multi-hit game of the seasons and extended his streak of reaching base to 16 games … Balta drove in his 81st career run, tying him with Dave Roberts (1970-72) for eighth all-time at Oregon … Peterson moved into sixth all-time in strikeouts passing Robbie Snow (1962-64) … Bennett was 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored … Steer was 2-for-5 with two doubles and a RBI … Ducks' outfielders threw out a three runners on the bases. Left-fielder Balta nailed a runner at the plate to end the first inning, right-fielder Matthew Dyer threw a runner trying to tag up out at third in the third inning and reserve center-fielder Carson Breshears threw out a runner at third in the seventh.

On Deck: Oregon and Cal play game two of their series at 6 p.m. at Evans Diamond. Matt Mercer (2-1) goes to the mound for the Ducks, while Jared Horn (1-1) pitches for the Golden Bears.