Ducks fall for first time in 2023

Friday, February 24

Eugene, Ore.

2:05 PM

University of Oregon

4-1

UC Santa Barbara

3-2

UC Santa Barbara

Oregon

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

02/24/23 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: UC Santa Barbara 6, Oregon 2

EUGENE – Oregon gave up a pair of UC Santa Barbara home runs that accounted for all of the Gauchos' runs in a 6-2 nonconference loss at PK Park on Friday afternoon.

How It Happened: The Gauchos (3-2) struck first when leadoff hitter Zander Darby launched a 2-run home run onto the roof of the Player Development Area beyond the right-field wall in the top of the third inning off Oregon starter Jace Stoffal (0-1).

The Ducks (4-1) cut the lead in half in the fifth. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Rikuu Nishida stole his second base of the day to set the table for Drew Cowley who responded with a line-drive base hit to left field scoring Nishida.

UCSB put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh. After a single and two walks (one intentional) loaded the bases, Ivan Brethowr hit a grand slam that just barely stayed fair down the left-field line.

Oregon got a run back in the eighth. Tanner Smith led off the inning with a single before advancing to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Josiah Cromwick picked up an RBI scoring Smith on a sacrifice fly.

The Ducks threatened in the bottom of the ninth putting a pair of runners on with two outs, but Alex Schrier got Cowley to fly out to left field to end the game.

Box Score Notes: Oregon's pitching staff struggled to find the zone walking a season-high nine Gauchos … Of those nine, two scored … Smith (2-for-4, 1 R) tied the Ducks' career record with his 66th career multiple-hit game … He also tied the PK Park record with his 117th career hit in the friendly confines … Nishida's two stolen bases ran his total to four for the season in five games … Nishida (1-for-3, 1 R) extended his hitting streak to five games … Oregon freshmen pitchers Dylan McShane and Ian Umlandt combined to toss 1.1 scoreless innings … The Ducks' eight freshmen hurlers who have taken the mound this season have now allowed just two earned runs in 24.1 innings pitched (0.74 ERA).

On Deck: The Ducks and Gauchos wrap up the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11:05 a.m.

Quotes:

Head Coach Mark Wasikowski:
Takeaways from today's game:
"They pitched better than us and they hit it the clutch better than us, and that was the difference in the game today."

On Stoffal's performance:
"It's good to get him back out there. He was dominant the first inning, he wasn't as sharp the next two innings. But it was a win for us today to get him back on the mound and start building him back up with a couple weeks in front of conference play."