Ducks Drop Series Finale

Sunday, March 24

Eugene, Ore.

12:00 PM

University of Oregon

12-9, 2-4

Arizona State

22-1, 5-1

Arizona State

Oregon

Photo by: Deborah Mundorff, Well, Shoot! P

03/24/19 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: No. 20 Arizona State 7, Oregon 3

EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon rallied from an early deficit but No. 20 Arizona State scored four runs in the fourth inning and then held on for a 7-3 win in a Pac-12 Conference game at PK Park on Sunday.

The Sun Devils (22-1, 5-1 Pac-12) claimed the series after the two teams split the first two games.

How it Happened: ASU scored runs in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead, but Oregon tied the game in the bottom of the third.

Freshman Sam Novitske lined a RBI double into the left-field corner to score Evan Williams, who walked to lead off the inning. Novitske scored on a Jonny DeLuca sacrifice fly to tie the game.

The Sun Devils responded with four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 6-2 lead. The Ducks (12-9, 2-4 Pac-12) pulled within three with a run in the fifth. Junior Gabe Matthews drove in DeLuca with a RBI single to cut the lead to 6-3.

ASU threated to break the game open in the top of the seventh. Spencer Torkelson lined a double off the left-center wall before Hunter Bishop walked. The Sun Devils bunted them to second and third, but freshman reliever Keaton Chase got out of the inning without allowing a run.

Chase got Carter Aldrete to pop out to Novitske in foul territory and the DeLuca made a sensational diving play in left center to rob ASU of two runs and end the inning.

ASU added an insurance run in the ninth inning on a solo home run by Trevor Hauver.

Quotable: Head coach George Horton
On Arizona State…
""They've done a good job with them. Not only do they have unbelievable power and bat speed, but they also have good vision and they don't get themselves out very often. So when you play a team that is as offensive as them and you struggle to make pitches, you better make every out that is available, otherwise, it ends up being a crooked number in a hurry. It's unfortunate but they're really good."

Box Score Notes: Spencer Steer went 3-for-5, while Matthews was 2-for-5 with an RBI … Williams made his first start of the season after hitting a walk-off home run on Saturday night … Chase threw two scoreless innings with one strike out … Novitske reached base twice with a double and a walk … He has reached base multiple times in 18 of 21 games while batting leadoff … Freshman Heath Pickhardt appeared in his first career game catching the ninth inning.

On Deck: Oregon hits the road for a five-game road trip to the state of Utah. The Ducks play at BYU 5 p.m. Tuesday, at Utah Valley 5 p.m. Wednesday and open a three-game Pac-12 Conference series at Utah on Friday.