No. 22 Oregon Takes First Trip To Portland Today
THIS WEEK
The Ducks have eight games left on the 2010 regular season schedule, beginning with Tuesday’s contest at Joe Etzel Field - home of the Portland Pilots (31-16).
No. 22 Oregon is 0-4 against the Pilots since reinstatement, including a 3-1 loss back on May 4 at PK Park. This will be the Ducks first trip to Joe Etzel Field since reinstatement.
OREGON UPDATE
Oregon (34-18, 10-11) remained at No. 22 in the Baseball America Top-25 poll this week, after ending a four-game skid with a four-game winning streak.
The Ducks defeated No. 19 San Diego by the score of 13-4 last Tuesday, before a sweep of East Tennessee State last weekend, as UO heads into Tuesday’s contest on a four-game winning streak.
Oregon’s record of 10-11 in Pac-10 play has the Ducks tied for sixth place in the league standings with Arizona. The Ducks have six Pac-10 games remaining; on the road at Washington this weekend, and the final series of the season, hosting California at PK Park (May 28-30).
BASEBALL IN MEDFORD
Oregon baseball will now be available in Medford on KCMX 880 AM.
RADIO BROADCASTS/MEDIA
Over the radio airwaves, Jerry Allen will provide the play-by-play on THE SCORE 95.3 FM in the Eugene/Springfield area for all four games this weekend.
A video broadcast of all three games at Washington will also be available through at www.gohuskies.com
Live stats will also be made available at www.GoDucks.com.
O-ZONE: ONLINE VIDEO & AUDIO
Baseball fans can now watch Oregon baseball home games live on the O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com. All home games will offer live video and audio.
TICKETS
A reminder that single-game tickets for the 2010 season remain on sale. Duck fans can purchase tickets online by clicking HERE, over the phone by calling 1-800-WEB-FOOT, or in person at the Casanova Center Ticket Office.
CIVIL WAR CLASSIC
Tickets are also currently on sale for The Civil War Classic presented by RBC Wealth Management. First pitch is set 6:30 p.m. from PGE Park in Portland on Wednesday, May 26.
Tickets, which range in price from $5-$35, are available at www.ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster locations.
QUICK HITS
• Oregon welcomes back five position starters from the 2009 squad; Curtis Raulinaitis, Danny Pulfer, KC Serna, Mitch Karraker and Jett Hart.
• The Ducks pitching staff has 11 returners, including sophomore left-hander Tyler Anderson, who is expected to start the series opener on Friday night at Washington.
• Oregon also welcomes 11 newcomers to the roster; eight freshmen and three juniors.
SCHEDULE NOTES
• Oregon opened 2010 on an eight-game road trip to southern California and Hawaii, and came back to Eugene with a 4-4 record.
• The Ducks played 12 of their first 14 games on the road, but returned to play nine consecutive home games before opening up Pac-10 play. The Ducks were 9-5 in their first 14 games, and 8-1 during a nine-game homestand.
• Nine opponents (ARIZ, ASU, CAL, CSF, FS, STAN, UCLA, USD, WSU) on Oregon’s 2010 schedule are currently ranked in at least one national poll.
• Oregon’s longest home stretch of the season was nine games from Friday, March 12-Tuesday, March 23 as Seattle, Nevada and Southern Utah traveled to Eugene. The Ducks finished that stretch 8-1.
• Believe it or not, UO’s eight-game road trip to start the season was one of two on the year. Oregon also played eight straight games on the road at then No. 22 Stanford (April 9-10), at then No. 1 UCLA (April 16-18) and at Gonzaga (April 20-21). The Ducks finished that stretch of games 6-2.
• Oregon will now play in the Northwest the remainder of the season playing 15 contests at PK Park while traveling to Oregon State, Portland and Washington.
PORTLAND PREVIEW
Oregon holds an 80-32 series record against the Pilots, but the Ducks are 0-4 vs. the Pilots since reinstatement.
This is the second meeting for the two squads this season after UO suffered a 3-1 loss to Portland at PK Park on May 4.
Portland’s Chris Johnson was flawless in his seven innings on the mound, tossing seven innings of scoreless baseball, scattering four hits and walking one, while striking out five in the win.
The Pilots (31-16) are now on a seven-game losing streak after being swept in back-to-back series by San Diego, and last week on the road at San Francisco.
EAST TENNESSEE STATE RECAP
Oregon took a break from Pac-10 play to host a three-game set with visiting East Tennessee State last week.
A trio of performers helped the Ducks to their third series sweep of the season. Left-hander Tyler Anderson tossed 7 and 2/3 innings of shutout baseball as UO took game one, 5-0 on Friday.
On Saturday night, Mitch Karraker’s walk-off single scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Ducks prevailed 7-6.
On Sunday, senior Eddie Rodriguez hit for the cycle, including his sixth home run of the season, as the Ducks swept ETSU with a 17-7 win.
INJURY REPORT
Oregon starting third baseman J.J. Altobelli is currently day-to-day with a right ankle sprain. He suffered the injury a 6-5 loss at Oregon State on May 9.
Fellow freshman Jack Marder also remains day-to-day after suffering a concussion and leaving the game in third inning of UO’s 5-0 win over ETSU on Friday.
RODRIGUEZ NAMED PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Oregon senior catcher Eddie Rodriguez was named the Pac-10 Baseball Player of the Week for May 10-16, Commissioner Larry Scott announced on Monday.
Rodriguez led the No. 22 Ducks to a 4-0 record last week, including an upset of No. 19 San Diego and a weekend sweep of East Tennessee State.
The senior catcher was remarkable at the plate going 12-for-18 for a .667 batting average. In four games, Rodriguez drove in nine runs, scored five runs, hit two home runs, two doubles and capped off his weekend hitting for the cycle with a career-high tying four hits and personal-best five RBI in the 17-7 victory over ETSU on Sunday afternoon.
He became the first Oregon player to hit for the cycle since reinstatement of the Ducks’ baseball program.
The Warden, Wash., native finished the week with a 1.222 slugging percentage and a .684 on-base percentage, recording four consecutive multiple-hit games.
FILLING IN
Last weekend with injuries to first baseman Jack Marder and third baseman J.J. Altobelli, as well as shortstop KC Serna serving a three-game suspension, the Ducks had a new quartet of infielders in the lineup.
Junior Shawn Peterson filled in at first base, batting .462 in the series with two doubles and two RBIs. Sophomore relief pitcher Scott McGough made his first start at shortstop since April 19, 2009, and hit .375, picking up the first double of his career and totaling 12 assists.
Sophomore Dylan Gavin took over at third base for the week, batting .438 with a triple and two RBIs.
RODRIGUEZ ROCK SOLID
Senior catcher Eddie Rodriguez is leading Oregon, and ranks seventh in the Pac-10 with a .370 batting average. He also lead the Ducks with 40 RBIs (10th Pac-10), 68 hits (T-7th Pac-10), six home runs, and a .538 slugging percentage.
Rodriguez, currently on a six-game hitting streak, has also put together a four-game streak of multiple-hit games. He has a total of 19 multiple-hit games on the season, and is tied for the team lead with 10 multiple- RBI games.
Last Sunday, he became the first Oregon player to since reinstatement hit for the cycle in the Ducks 17-7 victory over ETSU.
TOP HONORS
Last week East Tennessee State came into its series at Oregon averaging 9.0 runs per game. The Ducks managed to hold the Buccaneers to a total of 13 runs (4.3 per game) in the series sweep.
Oregon’s pitching staff is third in the Pac-10 with a 3.08 ERA. The Ducks are holding opposing batters to a .250 clip (3rd Pac-10), and have dealt 419 strikeouts, trailing only UCLA (507) and Arizona State (425) in the conference.
The Ducks also lead the league having picked off 16 runners this year.
The Ducks weekend rotation of Tyler Anderson (2.29 ERA; 4th Pac-10), Justin LaTempa (3.11 ERA; 10th Pac-10) and Zack Thornton (3.58 ERA) has combined for 204 strikeouts.
TYLER ANDERSON
Anderson, the Friday-night starter, is 7-3 on the season with a 2.29 ERA (4th Pac-10) and 85 strikeouts (6th Pac-10). In 13 starts, Anderson has pitched a total of 82 and 2/3 innings, issuing just 28 walks. He is holding batters to a .201 clip (6th Pac-10).
In his last four starts, Anderson has a 2-0 record and an ERA of 1.61, while striking out 30 batters in 28 innings on the mound. He has allowed five runs on 17 hits.
JUSTIN LATEMPA
Justin LaTempa is 4-2 on the year with a 3.11 ERA. He is holding batters to a .228 clip, and has struck out 61 in 12 starts and 72 and 1/3 innings on the mound.
ZACK THORNTON
Zack Thornton has split his time this season between starter and relief, excelling in both for No. 22 Oregon. He has a 3.58 ERA, while his seven wins on the mound tie for eighth in the conference as the senior is an undefeated 7-0. Of Oregon’s 10 Pac-10 wins, four are credited to Thornton. And of those four victories, three were series-clinching wins for the Ducks.
NATIONAL HONORS FOR LATEMPA
On May 4, The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named Justin LaTempa the Pro-Line Athletic National Pitcher of the Week. CollegeBaseball360.com also voted LaTempa its Primetime Pitcher of the Week
He was also named the College Baseball Insider National Pitcher of the Week, while the College Baseball Foundation named LaTempa to its weekly National All-Star Lineup. The senior was nearly untouchable on May 1 vs. Washington State, tossing a complete game, one-hit shutout and dealing 10 strikeouts as the then No.15 Ducks defeated the Cougars, 6-0.
THE LONG BALL
After belting just 16 home runs last year, Oregon has improved that total 26 this season. The Ducks have hit a round-tripper in five of their seven Pac-10 series this season, and 10 different players have recorded at least one home run this year.
Senior Eddie Rodriguez leads UO with six homers, while freshman Jack Marder has hit four.Junior Marcus Piazzisi and sophomore Danny Pulfer have hit three each. Against USC on April 25, freshman J.J. Altobelli his first homer of the season - a grand slam that was the first for the Ducks since the reinstatement of the program. On May 2, Paul Eshleman launched his second of the season, a three-run shot that helped the Ducks defeat Washington State, 6-1.
WHAT A CHANGE
Last year Oregon finished its season with a 14-42 record and finished last in the Pac-10 with a record of 4-23. The Ducks were voted to finish 10th in the 2010 Pac-10 Preseason Poll, but are currently tied for sixth in the conference standings with a record of 10-11.
Head coach George Horton has led his squad a No. 22 ranking in the Baseball America Top-25 poll with a record of 34-18 (.654). Horton, a two-time national coach of the year, has produced 30-win seasons in 12 of his 13 years at the Division l level.
Oregon’s offense has improved from batting .227 a year ago to .296 in 2010, as currently three everyday starters are hitting over .300, led by Eddie Rodriguez (.370).
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Oregon has played 52 games this season, and of those 13 have been decided by one run. The Ducks have won four of those contests. In games decided by two runs or less, UO is 4-12 (.250). The Ducks have also played in four extra-inning games this season, posting a 1-3 record in those contests.
COMEBACK KIDS
Although not always notching the victory, Oregon has made some finishes very exciting this season. The Ducks have erased ninth-inning deficits in six games in 2010, beginning with a four-run ninth inning comeback that led the Ducks to their first conference win of the year, a 9-8 victory at Arizona on March 28.
In UO’s upset of No. 1 Arizona State on April 2, the Ducks trailed 5-4 heading to the bottom of the ninth. UO tied the game on Ryan Hambright’s RBI single, before eventually winning the game in the 12th on Marcus Piazzisi’s walk-off RBI.
The Ducks scored eight runs in the final two innings, including five in the top of the ninth, to win the series at then No. 22 Stanford on April 10 with a 9-6 victory.
Trailing East Tennessee State 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth, Paul Eshleman led things off with a single. Andrew Mendenhall came in to pinch run, and Steven Packard moved him over on a sacrifice. Shawn Peterson then came to the plate and tied the game, knocking Mendenhall home with a RBI single to right. Dylan Gavin was walked, and with Jett Hart sitting at second (pinch running for Peterson), Mitch Karraker lined a walk-off single into left.
TOP-25 RECRUITING
Oregon inked 12 players during the early signing period, and each signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the U of O for the 2010-11 academic year. All 12 newcomers are currently in their senior year of high school.
This is Oregon’s third recruiting class since the reinstatement of the UO baseball program, and if history repeats itself, the 2010 graduating class should garner national honors like its predecessors.
Of Oregon’s 12 signees, six rank among the top-200 high school prospects for 2010, including three of the country’s top-50 ranked prospects, according to PerfectGame Crosschecker.
For two consecutive years, Oregon’s recruiting classes have earned top-25 accolades. The Ducks’ 2009 class, brought in for the program’s first season in 28 years, was ranked No. 2 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball’s annual evaluation, and was also ranked 10th in the nation by Baseball America’s evaluation.
The Ducks’ second class received the No. 24 ranking in the nation from Baseball America earlier this fall.
PK PARK
Oregon’s newest facility opened to 2,609 fans on March 2 as UO defeated Washington, 6-2. The park has full locker rooms, clubhouses and team amenities, as well as a state-of-the-art video board and a classic inning by inning score board.
The park has specially designed lighting structures. There is a landscaped area for food and hospitality and even a fan interaction area. There is a student seating area to enhance the intimacy for the Oregon baseball team and spectators.
Eugene architect firm Cameron, McCarthy, Gilbert & Scheibe was the lead landscape architectural firm on the first phase of construction. Larry Gilbert is leading the project.
“We have designed PK Park with all the features and amenities necessary to help the University of Oregon baseball program quickly establish itself as a regular on the ‘Road to Omaha’. The Ducks’ passionate fans will find their new ballpark to be one of the best places in the country to cheer on their favorite team,” said Greg Garlock, Designer and Principal with DLR Group.
PK Park has a total capacity of 4,000, including 3,000 fixed seats, a tiered party plaza named “Fowl Territory”, a picnic plaza and eight upper level suites.
FieldTurf
The field is made of an all-weather base-ball specific FieldTurf, with clay mounds and bullpens. FieldTurf is the leading provider of collegiate baseball synthetic turf. The company has been installing similar products at college ballparks around the country.
History
2008 – On August 15, 2008 The University of Oregon announced that work has begun on the construction of a new baseball park. PK Park is named after then Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny for his leadership, vision, support, and commitment to the University of Oregon. It was projected to cost $15-$18 million.
2009 – Baseball returns to the University of Oregon. In the team’s first game at the park on Feb. 27, the Ducks beat Fresno State, the defending national champions in front of a sellout crowd.
