Ducks fall in series opener to Washington

Friday, May 12

Eugene, Ore.

7:00 PM

University of Oregon

31-17, 14-11

Washington

30-14, 14-10

Washington

Oregon

Photo by: Molly McPherson

05/12/23 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: Washington 14, #24 Oregon 5 Photo Gallery

EUGENE, Ore. – No. 24 Oregon jumped out to an early lead but Washington came storming back scoring eight runs in the first four innings en route to a 14-5 Pac-12 Conference win at PK Park on Friday night.

Washington (30-14, 14-10 Pac-12) got a combined nine RBI, five runs scored and six hits from its three-hole and cleanup hitters to pick up the win over Oregon (31-17, 14-11 Pac-12).

How It Happened: The Huskies jumped in front early on a first-inning solo home run but the Ducks answered with a pair of runs in the second.

Freshman Drew Smith reached on a base hit off the second baseman's glove to start the two-out rally. Josiah Cromwick followed with a line drive over the left-field wall to give the Ducks the lead.

It didn't last long. Washington regained the lead with two runs in the third and five more in the fourth to chase Oregon starter Logan Mercado (4-1).

UW added to the lead with an unearned run in the seventh and five more in the top of the ninth before Oregon finally scored again with three runs in the bottom half of the ninth.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Colby Shade drove in a run with an infield single with a second run scoring on a throwing error. Drew Cowley plated Oregon's final run singling to right center.

Box Score Notes: Oregon extended its consecutive games with a home run streak to a program-record 18 games breaking the old record of 17 set last season … Sophomore Jacob Walsh made his 100th career start … Cromwick's home run was the 11th of his career and the seventh this season … His two RBI gave him 11 career multi-RBI games and the sixth this season … Shade (3-for-5, 2B) had his 36th career multi-hit game and his 15th this season … Drew Smith (2-for-4) had his fifth multi-hit game of the season in just his ninth start … Dylan McShane tossed a season-high 3.1 innings of relief, his second consecutive career-long outing.

On Deck: Oregon and Washington will meet in game two of the series on Saturday with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch

Quotes:

Head Coach Mark Wasikowski

Thoughts on Washington pitching
"Well, I mean they did a good job of command and strike. Their starter had a good angle on the ball, kept the ball down and he was living on the ground for the most part. He was doing a nice job of throwing ground balls and our pitchers, our starting pitcher, was up in the zone and when you're trying to throw a fastball or living in the top of the zone against good college hitters, you're going to have a tough time unless there's exceptional ride on the ball or something like that, and I don't know that Logan (Mercado) had that tonight."

Thoughts on Mercado's outing
"Well, it was up, he was up in the zone, and it was clear. So, when you're up in the zone, you're going to have a tougher time, you know, keeping the ball in the park or keeping the contact to a minimum. And as we saw Dylan (McShane), he was down in the zone and McShane came in, I thought he did a tremendous job. Throwing ground balls and so you saw the tale of two pitching performances right there and the first two guys that we threw out there."