Gritty Effort Clinches Another Series Win

Saturday, April 13

Eugene, Ore.

2:05 PM

University of Oregon

25-9, 10-4

USC

16-18, 9-7

USC

Oregon

Photo by: Deborah Mundorff

04/13/24 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: #17 Oregon 5, USC 3 Oregon Baseball Stats - 4/13 Photo Gallery

Oregon fought through rainy conditions Saturday to beat USC and clinch the Ducks' fifth straight series to open Pac-12 play.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — A similar formula provided a similar result for the second day in a row Saturday, as the No. 17 Oregon baseball team parlayed a solid start buoyed by strong defense and timely hitting for a 5-3 victory over USC before 2,494 fans at PK Park.

The start of the game was delayed 90 minutes by rain, before UO starter Grayson Grinsell grinded through five innings. Ryan Featherston followed with three shutout innings helped by two slick double plays turned by Oregon's infield, protecting a lead the Ducks took thanks to a four-run fourth inning that didn't include a single extra-base hit.

"With the weather conditions today, that was just a real challenge," UO coach Mark Wasikowski said. "… I really respect our guys, being out there and fighting through that and coming out on top with the win. It was a very gutsy performance."

The Ducks improved to 25-9 overall and 10-4 in the Pac-12, a game behind first-place Oregon State pending the result of OSU's game later Saturday. The victory for Oregon clinched the Ducks' fifth straight series win to open conference play, two more than the program's previous best to open a Pac-12 season.

"There's a lot of room to improve, a lot more we can do, but we're still getting the job done," freshman shortstop Maddox Molony said. "And that's what's fun about it, is that you're getting the job done but you know, I can get better. It makes every day fun. It makes the game fun."

How It Happened: Grinsell had to warm up multiple times due to the pregame weather delay, then pitched around a four-pitch walk to open the game.

Oregon's infield defense had its first of several highlights in the second when, with runners at second and third and one out, a ball to third base caromed to Molony at short. The freshman was able to throw home, getting an out that saved a run. USC then loaded the bases, but Grinsell got out of the jam.

"The game ball went to our infield coach, (Marcus) Hinkle," Wasikowski said. "He's really worked hard with this infield group this year, and it shows. We're starting to get some real returns on the diamond, and that was probably the biggest reason we won the game."

The Ducks gave Grinsell a lead in the bottom of the second, when Jeffery Heard walked, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Anson Aroz. But USC took a 2-1 lead in the third on a sacrifice fly and a UO throwing error, then added on in the fourth with a solo homer.

Grinsell then struck out the side in the fifth, however, ending his outing on a high note.

"It was just a day to go out and compete and give everything I had," Grinsell said. "Obviously we got the 'W' on the board. So that's all that matters."

But that time, his team had the lead. Heard walked again to open the fourth, and Aroz followed with a single. With one out, Meggers came up and singled up the middle, drawing the Ducks within a run. Aroz took third on the play, and Meggers ended up at second after an error.

Meggers drove in a run for the second game in a row, after his RBI groundout Friday encapsulated Oregon's unselfish approach at the plate in the Ducks' series-opening win.

"We talk about plus-ABs, and just being positive in the box — whatever that looks like," Meggers said. "We don't need everybody to hit a home run. Just consecutive plus-ABs, good at-bats, show presence in the box. Doing that will lead to scoring runs. We're a gritty group; we're going to find ways to score runs."

Molony proved that again in Oregon's very next at-bat, dropping down a bunt on a play designed to try and bring across both runners in scoring position. It was executed to perfection, and Oregon had a 4-3 lead after Meggers slid into home safely behind Aroz.

"Our whole lineup knows that at the end of the day, we're all gonna be better off — we're all gonna play better — when we want the team to win," Molony said. "And wanting the team to win doesn't mean you go up and try to hit a home run every time. You do what the situation needs."

After Molony took second on an error, Bryce Boettcher capped the four-run inning with an RBI single for a 5-3 lead. Grinsell wrapped up his outing in the fifth, then handed the ball to Featherston, who pitched a 1-2-3 sixth.

In both the seventh and eighth innings, USC put two runners on with one out. And in both innings, the UO infield turned inning-ending double plays behind Featherston.

Bradley Mullan pitched the ninth for the Ducks, and induced a grounder to first with the bases loaded and two out to finish off his fourth save of the year.

Up Next: The Ducks and Trojans close out the series Sunday at noon.