Saturday, April 18
Champaign, Ill.
1:00 p.m.
University of Oregon
27-11, 0
13
at
16
Illinois
20-17, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 14 | 3 |
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 0 |
Photo by: Zoe Rivers
Ducks Lose at Illinois on Walk Off
04/18/26 | Baseball
Champaign, Ill. — No. 19 Oregon stranded 14 runners on base over the first seven innings and Illinois took advantage scoring 12 runs in the final three innings to pick up a series-evening 16-13 win at Illinois Field in Big Ten Conference action on Saturday.
The Ducks (27-11, 11-6 Big Ten) had opportunities to break the game open while building a 6-4 lead through the middle of the seventh inning. The Ducks left the bases loaded in their two-run second inning, a no-run third inning and in their two-run seventh inning. UO also stranded a pair of runners in its two-run fifth inning and single runners in the first, fourth and sixth as well as one in the ninth.
Illinois (20-17, 8-9 Big Ten) eventually won the game on a three-run walk-off home run in the ninth. That came after the two teams swapped the lead in the seventh and eighth innings. Oregon took a 6-4 lead with two runs in the seventh, before Illinois put eight runs on the board in the bottom of the inning to take a 12-6 lead.
Oregon came right back to take the lead, scoring seven runs in the top of the eighth inning before Illinois tied it with a run in its half of the eighth.
How It Happened: Oregon took the early lead, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the second with two outs. With runners on first and second, Jack Brooks pulled a ball through the hole between first and second for a 1-0 lead. After a hit-by-pitch and walk loaded the bases, Brayden Jaksa drew another walk to score Burke-Lee Mabeus.
Illinois scored four runs in the fourth, thanks to a couple of wind-aided hits that led to the runs. Oregon answered to tie it in the fifth, scoring a pair of runs. After Angel Laya walked to lead off the inning, Maddox Molony slugged a two-run home run.
The Ducks scored two more in the top of the seventh inning to take a 6-4 lead. Mabeus led off the inning with a hit and moved to second on a Naulivou Lauaki Jr. base hit before a Brooks walk loaded the bases. Jaksa drove in a pair of runs with a base hit to left to give the Ducks the lead.
Oregon's bullpen ran into trouble in the eighth inning. Three relievers allowed eight runs on just four hits with four walks, two wild pitches that allowed runs to score and a Toby Twist throwing error that allowed two more runs to score.
Despite the Illini having all the momentum, Oregon's offense responded with seven runs in the top of the eighth to regain the lead. A Molony walk, Dominic Hellman hit-by-pitch and Lauaki base hit loaded the bases for Brooks, who got an RBI when he was hit by a pitch. Jaksa, who went 2-for-5 with a career-high seven RBI, cut the lead to one with a grand slam over the left-field wall.
After Ryan Cooney reached on another hit-by-pitch, Drew Smith lifted a home run over the right-field wall to give the Ducks the 13-12 lead.
Illinois tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning after Smith threw wild on a sacrifice bunt attempt, one of Oregon's three throwing errors during the game.
Box Score Notes: Molony moved into sole possession of third on Oregon's career home run list with his 32nd … Smith moved into a tie for eighth with Shaun Chase (2012-15) on the career home run list … He also moved into sole possession of fourth on the multiple-RBI list with his 33rd … Jax Gimenez extended his reached base streak to 28 games with a second-inning hit-by-pitch … Jaksa's grand slam was Oregon's fourth of the season … Oregon batters drew nine base on balls and were hit by five pitches … Oregon pitches allowed 10 runners to reach on walks … The Ducks finished with 15 runners left on base, while Illinois stranded eight … Lauaki led Oregon with three hits, while Jaksa, Smith, Molony and Brooks all had two hits … In addition to Jaksa's seven RBI, Smith, Molony and Brooks all drove in a pair of runs.
On Deck: The series rubber match is Sunday at 11:02 a.m. (PT) first pitch.
The Ducks (27-11, 11-6 Big Ten) had opportunities to break the game open while building a 6-4 lead through the middle of the seventh inning. The Ducks left the bases loaded in their two-run second inning, a no-run third inning and in their two-run seventh inning. UO also stranded a pair of runners in its two-run fifth inning and single runners in the first, fourth and sixth as well as one in the ninth.
Illinois (20-17, 8-9 Big Ten) eventually won the game on a three-run walk-off home run in the ninth. That came after the two teams swapped the lead in the seventh and eighth innings. Oregon took a 6-4 lead with two runs in the seventh, before Illinois put eight runs on the board in the bottom of the inning to take a 12-6 lead.
Oregon came right back to take the lead, scoring seven runs in the top of the eighth inning before Illinois tied it with a run in its half of the eighth.
How It Happened: Oregon took the early lead, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the second with two outs. With runners on first and second, Jack Brooks pulled a ball through the hole between first and second for a 1-0 lead. After a hit-by-pitch and walk loaded the bases, Brayden Jaksa drew another walk to score Burke-Lee Mabeus.
Illinois scored four runs in the fourth, thanks to a couple of wind-aided hits that led to the runs. Oregon answered to tie it in the fifth, scoring a pair of runs. After Angel Laya walked to lead off the inning, Maddox Molony slugged a two-run home run.
The Ducks scored two more in the top of the seventh inning to take a 6-4 lead. Mabeus led off the inning with a hit and moved to second on a Naulivou Lauaki Jr. base hit before a Brooks walk loaded the bases. Jaksa drove in a pair of runs with a base hit to left to give the Ducks the lead.
Oregon's bullpen ran into trouble in the eighth inning. Three relievers allowed eight runs on just four hits with four walks, two wild pitches that allowed runs to score and a Toby Twist throwing error that allowed two more runs to score.
Despite the Illini having all the momentum, Oregon's offense responded with seven runs in the top of the eighth to regain the lead. A Molony walk, Dominic Hellman hit-by-pitch and Lauaki base hit loaded the bases for Brooks, who got an RBI when he was hit by a pitch. Jaksa, who went 2-for-5 with a career-high seven RBI, cut the lead to one with a grand slam over the left-field wall.
After Ryan Cooney reached on another hit-by-pitch, Drew Smith lifted a home run over the right-field wall to give the Ducks the 13-12 lead.
Illinois tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning after Smith threw wild on a sacrifice bunt attempt, one of Oregon's three throwing errors during the game.
Box Score Notes: Molony moved into sole possession of third on Oregon's career home run list with his 32nd … Smith moved into a tie for eighth with Shaun Chase (2012-15) on the career home run list … He also moved into sole possession of fourth on the multiple-RBI list with his 33rd … Jax Gimenez extended his reached base streak to 28 games with a second-inning hit-by-pitch … Jaksa's grand slam was Oregon's fourth of the season … Oregon batters drew nine base on balls and were hit by five pitches … Oregon pitches allowed 10 runners to reach on walks … The Ducks finished with 15 runners left on base, while Illinois stranded eight … Lauaki led Oregon with three hits, while Jaksa, Smith, Molony and Brooks all had two hits … In addition to Jaksa's seven RBI, Smith, Molony and Brooks all drove in a pair of runs.
On Deck: The series rubber match is Sunday at 11:02 a.m. (PT) first pitch.
Players Mentioned
UTL
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INF
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INF/OF
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INF/RHP
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INF
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INF/OF
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LHP
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Pitching:
W: Sam Mommer (2-1)
L: Bell, Devin (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Cooney, Ryan 1
HR: Jaksa, Brayden 1 ; Smith, Drew 1 ; Molony, Maddox 1
RBI: Jaksa, Brayden 7 ; Smith, Drew 2 ; Molony, Maddox 2 ; Brooks, Jack 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jaksa, Brayden 1 ; Cooney, Ryan 1 ; Smith, Drew 1 ; Laya, Angel 1 ; Molony, Maddox 3 ; Mabeus, Burke-Lee 2 ; Hellman, Dominic 1 ; Lauaki Jr., Naulivou 2 ; Brooks, Jack 1
SB: Molony, Maddox 1 ; Brooks, Jack 2
HBP: Gimenez, Jax 1 ; Cooney, Ryan 1 ; Molony, Maddox 1 ; Hellman, Dominic 1 ; Brooks, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Nick Groves 1 ; J.R. Nelson 1
3B: Nick Groves 1
HR: Kyle Schupmann 1
RBI: Nick Groves 2 ; Kyle Schupmann 4 ; Daniel Contreras 1 ; Luke Landrus 2 ; J.R. Nelson 2
SH: Collin Jennings 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nick Groves 1 ; Michael Farina 2 ; Jack Zebig 1 ; AJ Putty 3 ; Kyle Schupmann 2 ; Collin Jennings 1 ; Daniel Contreras 2 ; Cole Crafton 1 ; Luke Landrus 1 ; J.R. Nelson 2
SB: Collin Jennings 1 ; Daniel Contreras 1
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
1b/c
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
7
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
Tuesday, June 02
Tuesday, June 02
Tuesday, June 02
Tuesday, June 02
