Walsh Makes History as Ducks Down Bruins

Sunday, April 7

Los Angeles, Calif.

12:05 PM

University of Oregon

22-8, 8-4

UCLA

12-17, 5-10

Oregon

UCLA

Photo by: Hudson Downard

04/07/24 | Baseball

Box Score

LOS ANGELES — Jacob Walsh became the Ducks' all-time leader in home runs with a right-field blast to open a five-run third inning that powered Oregon baseball to a 6-3 win over UCLA to claim its fourth Pac-12 series of the season on Sunday.

After back-to-back shutout innings from Kevin Seitter to open the game, Walsh opened the scoring with a no-doubter to right field that put the Ducks (22-8, 8-4 Pac-12) on top of the Bruins (12-17, 5-10 Pac-12). Drew Smith and Chase Meggers each connected on RBI doubles before Maddox Molony mashed a two-run shot to left field to cap a five-run third inning for UO.

UCLA tacked on three runs across the fourth and fifth innings, but the Ducks' pitching combined for four scoreless frames across the remainder of the game to win the rubber match and take the series in UCLA for the first time since 2014.

How It Happened: Seitter started the game on the mound for Oregon and struck out four batters while holding UCLA scoreless across the first three innings. With a scoreless game entering the bottom of the third, Walsh stepped up to the plate with one out and crushed the 3-1 pitch for his program-record 32nd career homer.

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Here it is. A no-doubter for the record for @JGWalsh_ . #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/Qd7kgddt8r
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) April 7, 2024

Jeffery Heard connected on a double in the following at-bat and scored the second run of the day off of a Smith double on the very next pitch. The doubles continued as Meggers hit the first pitch he saw to score Smith, and Molony sent a ball over the left field wall to tack on two more runs and open up a 5-0 lead.

The Bruins responded with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth, cutting into the Duck lead 5-3. The bullpen took over for Oregon in the sixth inning as Turner Spoljaric struck out two on his way to retiring three-straight UCLA batters. In the top of the seventh Dominic Hellman stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second and poked a single through the right side of the field to score an insurance run for the Ducks.

With a three-run lead, Logan Mercado entered the game in the eighth inning and inherited two runners on base. The senior righty was unphased as he retired three-straight Bruin batters to get the Ducks out of the jam, and proceeded to sit down three-straight again in the bottom of the ninth as Oregon clinched the series win.

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Here it is. A no-doubter for the record for @JGWalsh_ . #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/Qd7kgddt8r
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) April 7, 2024

Notables: Bryce Boettcher earned his fourth outfield assist of the year…Walsh made his first-career start in left field…Outfielder Justin Cassella missed his sixth-consecutive game.

Up Next: The Ducks open up a six-game homestand against Sacramento State on Tuesday at 5:05 p.m. PT.