Smith homers again, Ducks’ pitchers secure sweep

Sunday, March 26

Eugene, Ore.

12:05 PM

University of Oregon

15-7

Northwestern State

13-11

Northwestern State

Oregon

Photo by: Photo: Deborah Mundorff

Smith homers again, Ducks’ pitchers secure sweep

03/26/23 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 5, Northwestern State 0 Photo Gallery

EUGENE – Tanner Smith homered for the fifth straight game, an Oregon program record, and three Ducks' pitchers combined on a two hitter to give Oregon a 5-0 win over Northwestern State on Saturday and a four-game series sweep.

Matthew Grabmann, Matt Dallas and Josh Mollerus held NSU (13-11) allowed just five base runners in the game with two reaching on hits, a pair on hit-by-pitches and one on an intentional walk. Oregon's defense turned three double plays with the first getting Oregon out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth.

How It Happened: The Ducks took the early lead scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning thanks to some spotty Demon defense. Rikuu Nishida reached on a fielding error to lead off the inning, moved to second on a Colby Shade sacrifice bunt and third on a Drew Cowley ground out before scoring on a passed ball.

Grabmann got off to a good start before running into trouble in the fourth. The freshman retired the first nine batters he faced, including three on strikeouts. Grabmann put the leadoff batter in the fourth inning on a hit-by-pitch before the Demon leaded the bases with a base hit and a one-out intentional walk after a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Grabmann got out of the jam enticing a ground ball to short that turned into an inning-ending double play.

Grabmann started the fifth inning on the mound, but was removed in favor of Dallas after hitting the leadoff batter for the second consecutive inning. Dallas responded by striking out the first batter he faced before getting another inning-ending double play on a ground out to second base.

After allowing a leadoff single in the sixth, Dallas enticed the third double play in as many innings to get the first two outs before finishing the frame with one more groundout.

Oregon finally was able to get some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth scoring three runs. Colby Shade led off the inning with a single before moving to third on a Cowley double. Sabin Ceballos drove in Shade with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. Two pitches later it was 4-0, thanks to a Smith two-run home run. Oregon added an unearned run in the seventh for a 5-0 lead.

Dallas, the reigning Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week, retired the side in order in both the seventh and eighth innings to lock up his third win of the season. Mollerus pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out the final two batters of the game.

Box Score Notes: The game lasted just two hours and 10 minutes … Smith's streak of five consecutive games with a home run is one more than a Kenyon Yovan streak in 2021 … Smith (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R) extended his school record for hits (255), runs (175) and multi-hit games (73) … His two RBI moved him within four of setting a new school record … Smith's home run was the 26th of his career, moving him into sole possession of third all-time on the all-time Oregon list … He needs five more to set a new record … Oregon's three pitchers combined to strikeout out eight Demons .. The Ducks have won a season-high six straight games.

Series Notes: Oregon batted. 353 in the series finishing with 13 home runs, 13 doubles and one triple … The Ducks outscored the Demons 46-11 in the four games … Smith batted .643 (9-for-140 with four home runs, two doubles, seven runs scored and 10 RBI … Cowley hit .462 (6-for-13) with a home run, three doubles and eight runs scored … Ceballos batted .455 (5-for-11) with two home runs, a double, eight runs scored and nine RBI … Gavin Grant hit .364 (4-for-11) with a home run, triple and five runs scored … Nishida batted .357 (5-for-14) with two doubles, four runs scored and two stolen bases … Twelve Ducks' pitchers combined for a 2.75 ERA … Oregon got three quality starts (6+ IP, less than 3 runs scored) in the series … Grayson Grinsell has a staff-high six Ks (3.0 IP) … The staff combined for 30 strikeouts … The four-game series sweep was Oregon's third of the season.

On Deck: Oregon returns to Pac-12 play with a three-game series at Arizona starting on Friday.

Quotes:

Head Coach Mark Wasikowski:

Thoughts on completing the sweep:
"It was a challenge obviously, they had their best bullpen guys and their best returning starter from last year they are throwing in game four. We knew going into it that it was going to be a hard game and it was. The guy was really good on the mound to start and then it was pretty obvious each pitcher that they threw had very very good arms and for us to come out on top and throw a shutout right there was fantastic."

Thoughts on Grabmann pitching today:
"We just didn't give him a bunch of rope although we could have just because we had our bullpen fresh. We didn't use a couple pieces of it today which was great. When you're able to do that, that means guys are just throwing well. Matt Dallas and giving the ball to Josh (Mollerus) at the end. Both were electric. Really shut down and so I was happy with all the pitchers that we had out there today. I thought they competed well and threw the ball exceptionally well.

Matt Dallas:

What is working well right now:
"Really just not trying to do too much. Being in character and just trying to live pitch by pitch. We do a great job, pitching coach (Jake) Angier and all of our catchers do a great job there and their prep work. They know how we're going to attack hitters, so I really just kind of do what they tell me and just try to execute my pitches. That's it really."

Thoughts on being named PAC-12 Pitcher of the Week:
"It was awesome. I mean, gratitude is kind of the thing that I reflect on a lot and just super grateful to be in a position to have the opportunity to do stuff like that and to win ball games, really help my team win. That's really my most important goal."

Tanner Smith:

Enter the series breaking a record and breaking another one to end it:
"It was awesome. It's a great feeling to just break records. But I think it's an even better feeling when we come away with a four game sweep and see all the bats come alive and stay hot and see the pitching. You know, just the team clicks and it's just so awesome."

Feeling to be locked in at the plate:
"Feels good. It just feels really good. Being in a dugout where everybody's playing for each other. Being in the box and knowing that there's 40 dudes in the dugout that are just doing anything they can to help us every at bat."