Ducks drop thriller on play at the plate

Saturday, April 29

Eugene, Ore.

2:00 PM

University of Oregon

24-14, 7-10

Arizona State

19-21, 6-11

Arizona State

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

04/29/17 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Derren Iha

EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon had the tying run tagged out at the plate on a ball that got away from the catcher in a 4-3 Pac-12 Conference loss to Arizona State on Saturday at PK Park.

How It Happened: The Ducks (24-14, 7-10 Pac-12) got the tying run on third base and winning run at second with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Gabe Matthews, Tim Susnara and Kenyon Yovan each drew walks while Matthew Dyer reached on a fielder's choice to set the table for Taylor Travess with two outs. Dyer tried to score on a ball that got away from the catcher but was tagged out at the plate to end the game.

The Sun Devils (19-21, 6-11 Pac-12) opened the scoring with two runs in the third inning. Taylor Lane led off the inning with a solo home run to left center before Andrew Shaps delivered a two-out RBI double.

Oregon got a run back in the fourth inning, cutting the lead to 2-1. Dyer, Susnara and Travess each singled to load the bases with one out before Morgan McCullough drove in Dyer with an RBI fielder's choice.

Lane crushed his second home run of the game to straight away center with one out in the seventh. Gage Canning followed later in the inning with a run-scoring single to center, stetching the lead to 4-1.

Matthews drove in Kyle Kasser with an RBI groundout after Kasser led off the inning with a walk, trimming the ASU lead to 4-2 in the seventh.

Daniel Patzlaff's pinch-hit RBI single drove in Susnara who led off the eighth inning with a walk and advanced to third on a pinch-hit single by Slade Heggen.

Box Score Notes: Matt Mercer (5-4) got the loss pitching 5.1 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out five and walking … Susnara reached base in four of his five plate appearances, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two walks … Matthews went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a walk … Dyer finished the day 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk … Cooper Stiles pitched two perfect innings of relief with four strikeouts to keep Oregon in the game … The Ducks failed to capitalize on opportunities all game, leaving 13 runners on base … In addition to the final play of the game the Ducks had two runners thrown out at home plate.

On Deck: The Ducks and Sun Devils wrap up the weekend series tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. at PK Park. Oregon will send Cole Stringer (3-1, 3.95) to the mound while Arizona State is scheduled to throw Chaz Montoya (4-2, 5.95).