Ahlstom dominates in Ducks win

Saturday, March 30

Salt Lake City, Utah

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

14-10, 0

Utah

7-13, 0

Oregon

Utah

Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto

03/30/19 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 9, Utah 4

Salt Lake City – Oregon jumped out to a nine-run lead behind five extra-base hits and then held off Utah 9-4 in game one of a Pac-12 Conference series at Smith's Ballpark on Saturday night.

How it Happened: Oregon (14-10, 3-4 Pac-12) scored three runs in the top of the first inning off former Duck Kyle Robeniol to take the early lead.

Freshman Sam Novitske doubled on the second pitch of the game and came around to score on a Jonny DeLuca RBI double to put the Ducks on the board. After Spencer Steer was hit by a pitch and Taylor Adams walked, freshman Tanner Smith singled DeLuca and Steer home with a two-out two-run single.

Smith added to the lead in the fourth with a solo home run over the right-field wall to give the Ducks a 4-0 lead.

UO pushed the lead to 7-0 with three more runs in the sixth. Steer delivered with a three-run double with two outs scoring Max Foxcroft, Novitske and DeLuca. Foxcroft led off the inning with a base on balls, Novitske reached on a fielding error and DeLuca walked to load the bases for Steer.

Cameron Campbell made it 9-0 in the seventh with a RBI single scoring Aaron Zavala.

Utah (7-13, 1-6 Pac-12) made it interesting scoring three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth before freshman Keaton Chase got the final out leaving the bases loaded.

Robert Ahlstrom (4-3) picked up the win for Oregon while making his first game in a Pac-12 Conference series opener. The Ducks' lefty allowed just one unearned run on five hits while matching a season high with eight strikeouts and walking just two in a season-high 7.1 innings.

Box Score Notes: Oregon's three pitchers – Ahlstrom, Peyton Fuller, Chase – didn't allow an earned run … Smith was 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI … Novitske went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI … Oregon's top three hitters in the order – Novitske, DeLuca, Steer – combined for four hits, five runs and five RBI.

Duck Notes: Ahlstrom has struck out 16 batters in his last 13.1 innings as a starter … The Ducks' lefty hasn't allowed an earned run in three of his four starts … He tossed five scoreless innings at Hawaii, didn't allow any runs in six innings vs. Arizona State and held Utah to one unearned run tonight … Steer's three RBI ran his career total to 86, two behind A.J. Balta (2014-17) for eighth all-time at Oregon … He also had his 25th career multi-RBI game passing Balta for sole possession of fourth all-time at UO … He needs four more to tie Kyle Garlick (2011-14) for third … Steer has five RBI in Oregon's last two games and four multi-RBI games this season including the last two … Steer's double was the 28th of his career and moved him into sole possession of 10th all-time, one ahead of Gabe Matthews … Steer's HBP in the first was the 33rd of his career, five behind Jack Marder (2010-11) for third all-time with the Ducks … Smith's home run was the first of his career … His three RBI were a season high … Leadoff hitter Novitske reached base three times (two doubles and an error) marking the 23rd time in 24 games he has reached base, including 20 games where he has reached multiple times …

On Deck: Oregon and Utah will play a doubleheader on Sunday with first pitch in game one at 10 a.m. PT. Cullen Kafka (2-2, 5.01 ERA) will take the mound for the Ducks while Joshua Tedeschi (3-2, 5.34) will pitch for the Utes. Game two starters are yet to be announced.