Ducks Comeback Bid Falls Short

Friday, February 14

Tempe, Ariz.

6:30 PM

University of Oregon

0-1

Minnesota

1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oregon	0	0	0	1	1	1	2	5	0	10	10	2
Minnesota	2	2	5	0	2	0	0	1	X	12	16	4

Photo by: Nick Domiano

02/14/20 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: Minnesota 12, Oregon 10

By: Michael Abbott

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Oregon Ducks baseball team opened the Mark Wasikowski era at the Angles College Classic in thrilling fashion. After Minnesota took an early 9-0, Oregon clawed their way back in the late innings, but could not quite complete the comeback, falling 12-10 on opening night.

How it Happened: Minnesota scored two runs in each of the first two innings and five in the third to jump out to a 9-0 lead. The Ducks fought their way back, scoring runs in five straight innings, including two in the seventh and five in the eighth.

In the eighth, after Gabe Matthews walked to load the bases, freshman Jack Scanlon was hit by a pitch, scoring Tanner Smith. After a Minnesota wild pitch scored Kenyon Yovan, Anthony Hall roped a triple to center field scoring a pair of runs to cut the Gophers' lead to 11-9. Hall, a freshman from San Diego, Calif. had two hits, two RBI, two runs scored and a walk in his first collegiate game.

The Ducks continued to battle, loading the bases again in the top of the ninth. With one out Smith and Yovan hit back-to-back singles. Matthews was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Minnesota closer Josh Culliver retired the two Duck's he faced to shut down the comeback attempt.

On offense, Matthews went 2-for-4 with a triple in his first at-bat, an RBI, a walk and two runs scored. Yovan, the designated hitter, finished with three hits and two runs scored in his first at-bats since the 2018 season. In addition, Hall went 2-for-5 with a clutch two-RBI triple and a single to go along with two runs scored and a walk.

On the mound Keaton Chase, Decker Stedman and Nico Tellache combined for 5.1 innings of relief. The trio racked up a combined eight strikeouts with just one walk, keeping the Ducks in the game.

Box Score Notes: The Ducks leadoff hitter was able to reach base in six of the nine innings … Sam Olsson, Gavin Grant, Josh Kasevich and Hall all started their first career games … Scanlon and Parker Schmidt also appeared in their first games for Oregon, coming off the bench as a catcher and pinch-runner respectively … Sam Novitske extended his consecutive starts streak to 57 games … Smith extended his consecutive starts streak to 36 games … Oregon starter Cullen Kafka was charged with the loss after allowing nine runs, seven earned, on 10 hits in 2.2 innings.

On deck: Oregon faces San Diego in the Angels College Classic on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Junior Peyton Fuller will start for the Ducks.