Ducks lose another heartbreaker

Saturday, May 4

Tucson, Ariz.

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

23-21, 8-12

Arizona

21-23, 9-14

Oregon

Arizona

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

05/04/19 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: Arizona 9, Oregon 8 (11)

TUCSON, Ariz. – Oregon battled back from a two-run deficit with three runs in the eighth inning, but Arizona forced extra innings and then won 9-8 on a three-base throwing error on a pickoff attempt in the 11th inning on Saturday night at Hi Corbett Field.

How it happened: Oregon (23-21, 8-12 Pac-12) did not waste any time breaking out the bats. The Ducks put five runs on the board in the top of the first inning on five hits.

After a Sam Novitske leadoff single, Tanner Smith gave Oregon a 1-0 lead with a RBI triple into the right-field corner. Spencer Steer followed with a run-scoring hit to left field to make it 2-0.

Gabe Matthews reached on a hit by a pitch, then after two Ducks' outs Jakob Goldfarb plated Steer with a double. Taylor Adams capped the Ducks' scoring with a two-RBI single scoring Matthews and Goldfarb.

Arizona (21-23, 9-14 Pac-12) cut the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning on back-to-back solo home runs.

The Wildcats took the lead with their second big seventh inning in as many days. After scoring six runs on Friday night in the seventh, Arizona scored five on Saturday to take a 7-5 lead. Nick Quintana had the big hit with a three-run home run that tied the game.

The Ducks rallied to take the lead back in the top of the eighth inning. Steer started the inning with a base hit and moved to third on a Matthews hit. Jonny DeLuca got Oregon within a run with a double down the third base line that scored Steer and moved Matthews to third.

Evan Williams tied the game with a base hit to left field scoring Matthews. Goldfarb gave the Ducks the lead with a fielder's choice that scored DeLuca.

Arizona tied it in the bottom of the ninth on an Austin Wells two-out triple that scored former Duck Matthew Dyer.

In the eleventh, Dyer reached on a hit by pitch with one out and then came around to score when Ryne Nelson's pickoff throw sailed into right field.

Box score notes: Steer went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a RBI … It was his 42nd career multi-hit game of his career moving him into sole possession of eighth place … It was also his team-best 16th multi-hit game of the season … Matthews was 2-for-5 with two runs scored, his 14th multi-hit game of the season … Smith finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI, his 10th multi-hit game of the year … Williams was 2-for-5 with a RBI, his third multi-hit game of the year … Goldfarb drove in two runs for his fifth multi-RBI game of the season, while Adams had two RBI as well for his fourth multi-RBI game … Oregon starter Robert Ahlstrom, who returned to the mound after missing his last two starts, left the game in the seventh inning with a 5-2 lead … He finished throwing 6.1 innings allowing four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks … Nelson (2-4) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in 3.2 innings with five walks and four strikeouts … Oregon fell to 2-2 in extra innings games this year.

On deck: The Ducks and Wildcats play game three of the series at noon on Sunday. Sophomore Cullen Kafka (5-3, 4.35) will make the start for the Ducks.