Ducks Host Michigan State
Irvin moves back to Friday night slot for MSU series: After two weeks pitching on Sunday’s, SO LHP Cole Irvin will return to his normal Friday night spot this weekend against Michigan State. The Ducks juggled their rotation after regular-Sunday starter Jack Karraker suffered a season-ending injury against California on March 15. With Irvin pitching on Sundays, Oregon went 1-5 in weekend series against Arizona and Arizona State with Oregon’s lone win (5-1) coming in his Sunday start against Arizona State on March 22. In five Friday starts Irvin is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA while allowing just three earned runs in 18 innings. Irvin left four of the five games with a lead but didn’t qualify for the win because he left before the end of the fifth inning because of a pitch count. In his two Sunday starts the Ducks’ lefty was 1-1 with a 11.05 ERA allowing nine earned runs in 7.1 inning. A bulk of those runs (8) came in a loss at Arizona where Irvin lasted just 1.2 innings.
Sunday game time pushed back on Easter: Oregon hosts Michigan State on Sunday to wrap up a three-game series with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. During a typical weekend series at PK Park, the Sunday game starts at noon to allow the visiting team time to catch a plane home. The start time for the MSU game was pushed back to accommodate those wishing to attend Easter services.
Ducks snap four-game skid with win in Hillsboro over Seattle: Four Oregon pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout of Seattle Wednesday as the Ducks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-0 win over the Redhawks. FR LHP Jacob Corn, who picked up the win, allowed a single to the first batter of the game before cruising through the next 5.2 innings without allowing a hit while striking out three. FR RHP Brac Warren, JR RHP Josh Graham and JR LHP Garrett Cleavinger combined over the final 3.1 innings to strike out six while walking one without allowing a hit.
Ducks 10 games into a 14-game/19-day stretch: Oregon’s pitching and depth is being challenged during a current 19-day stretch that will see UO play 14 games. The Ducks started the run with a three-game series at home against Arizona State March 20-22 before playing two games at UC Riverside and three games at Arizona. Earlier this week, the Ducks hosted Portland and then traveled to Hillsboro to meet Seattle in a neutral site game. During the 14-game stretch the Ducks will play seven games at PK Park, six on the road and one at a neutral site (at Hillsboro vs. Seattle). After taking four days (Monday-Thursday) off before the ASU series, UO won’t have back-to-back days off again until April 8-9 after a Tuesday game against Portland and before the Ducks start a three-game Pac-12 series against Oregon State on April 10.
Oregon one of only eight teams to win 40 or more games in each of previous three seasons; Ducks tied for fifth among those teams in total wins: Oregon is one of just eight teams in the country with a chance for a fourth consecutive 40-win season. The Ducks’ 44 wins in 2014 came after UO won a school-record 48 games in 2013 season after winning a then school-record 46 games in 2012. Oregon’s 155 wins since the beginning of the 2012 season are the sixth most during that time and trails only LSU, Louisville, Florida State, and Oregon State on the total wins list.
Karraker suffers season-ending injury: Sunday starter SR RHP Jack Karraker, who left his start against California with arm soreness in the fifth inning, is done for the season with an elbow injury. Karraker had three quality starts this season and left the Cal game with a no-hitter. With Karraker out, Oregon has moved SO LHP Cole Irvin from Friday to Sunday, while giving JR RHP Conor Harber the Friday night slot. Irvin was the Friday night starter over the first five weeks of the season with Harber relieving him after Irvin reached his predetermined pitch count. Irvin’s move to Sunday is based on his pitch count and keeping Oregon’s bullpen fresh for the series’ final two games. SO LHP David Peterson will continue to hold down the Saturday spot in the rotation.
Irvin’s comeback hits speed bump: LHP Cole Irvin has had a successful return to the mound through his first six starts, but the lefty hit a speed bump at Arizona allowing eight runs on seven hits in 1.2 innings pitched. It was the sophomores shortest career outing. Irvin is coming back from Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2014 season. Irvin’s poor outing came a week after his best outing of the year when he picked up his first win since June 2, 2013 against Arizona State on March 22. Irvin allowed just one run to the nationally-ranked Sun Devils on four hits in 5.2 innings while fanning five and walking just one. Irvin’s last win came when he beat San Francisco in the Eugene Regional of the 2013 NCAA Tournament. In that game, the freshman lefty pitched a complete game allowing just one run on six hits with nine Ks.
This season, Irvin had served as the Friday night starter during the first five weeks of the season allowing just three earned runs (1.50 ERA) on 14 hits in 18 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts. Irvin, limited by a pitch count, didn’t allow any runs on just two hits while striking out four in his first outing at Hawaii. He followed that with a three-inning stint at home against New Mexico State that saw him give up a run on three hits with a strikeout. In his next start, Irvin allowed one run on three hits in four innings. Against St. John’s, the Ducks’ lefty allowed no runs on just two hits in four innings. The sophomore took his first loss at Cal March 13 allowing two earned runs in three innings on four hits. Irvin moved to Sunday’s against Arizona State. As a true freshman in 2013, Irvin set a school record in wins finished 12-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 16 starts. He tossed 116.0 innings, striking out 60 while walking just 22.
Chase named to watch lists: Oregon SR C Shaun Chase is one of 50 players on the watch list for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award. The senior is also one of 75 catchers named to the watch list for the Johnny Bench Award. Chase, a first-team All-Pac-12 pick as a junior, was named to the list after putting together one of the top power seasons in college baseball in 2014. The Ducks catcher finished second in the country in home runs per at bat hitting a homer every 10.36 at bats, while tying an Oregon single-season record with 14 dingers. Chase, who led the Pac-12 in homers, ranked seventh nationally in home runs and home runs per game (0.26) while leading the Pac-12 in long balls. He batted .283, third on the Ducks’ team, while finishing with nine doubles and 37 RBI. His .634 slugging percentage set a new single-season record at Oregon.
Cleavinger sets Oregon career record for appearances: JR LHP Garrett Cleavinger became the school’s all-time leader in appearances when he took the mound in a March 6 win over St. John’s. Cleavinger pitched in his 77th career game moving past Jimmie Sherfy, who appeared in 76 games from 2009 to 2011. Cleavinger added appearances number 83 and 84 in last week’s trip to UC Riverside and Arizona.
Harber named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week: JR RHP Conor Harber was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week for Feb. 16-22. Harber threw six no-hit innings of relief to help Oregon post its third come-from-behind victory of the season, 3-1 over New Mexico State in the Ducks’ home opener at PK Park on Feb. 19. It was the second time in two weeks the Ducks threw Harber in relief of Cole Irvin, who remained on a pitch count as he built up his arm strength. After five two-hit innings in a shutout of Hawaii to open the season, Harber upped the ante by going six against NMSU and not allowing a hit.
Tolman gets 100th career RBI, needs 16 more to set new school record: JR 2B Mitchell Tolman became just the third player in school history to drive in 100 runs in his career when the Ducks three-year starter reached the milestone during a three-RBI game at UC Riverside on March 24. Tolman has 103 RBI and sits in third all-time behind Kyle Garlick (2011-14) who had 108 and Ryon Healy (2011-13) who is the all-time leader with 118.
Tolman’s consecutive start streak snapped at 128; the longest streak since return of baseball: It had been a long time since JR 2B Mitchell Tolman wasn’t in the Ducks’ starting lineup before he sat out the March 14 game at California. The Ducks second baseman had a 128-game start streak snapped when he didn’t play in the Ducks’ loss. The last time he wasn’t in the starting lineup was on March 13, 2013 when he sat out against Texas State. Tolman’s streak began two days later when he started at third base at USC in Oregon’s Pac-12 opener. Tolman’s versatility was extraordinary during the streak starting games at four different positions. His 17 starts at second base and one start at first base to open this season come after he started 72 games at third base in his first two seasons, as well as 20 at designated hitter and 18 at first base.
Ducks schedule features 15 games against five teams ranked in preseason polls: Oregon will play 15 games against teams ranked in one or more of the preseason polls, with 12 of those games played at PK Park. The Ducks will meet their first ranked team on the road when UO travels to play at UC Santa Barbara during the season’s third weekend (Feb. 27-March 1). The Gauchos are ranked 16th in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll. The Ducks return home from UCSB to face St. John’s (Collegiate Baseball No. 29) in a three-game series (March 6-8) to make it six straight games played against teams in the polls. The Ducks host Arizona State (March 20-22) in a crucial early season Pac-12 series. The Sun Devils are ranked in every preseason poll and check in as high as No. 18 in the Baseball America poll. Stanford appears in three polls and will visit PK Park on May 1-3 with the Cardinal ranked as high as number 18 in Baseball America. The Ducks finish the season at home against Pac-12 preseason favorite UCLA with the Bruins boasting a top 10 ranking in four of the polls including a No. 4 ranking by D1Baseball.com, No. 5 Perfect Game, No. 9 USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 10 Collegiate Baseball and No. 11 Baseball America.
Ducks 21-14 all-time against ranked teams at PK Park: Oregon is no stranger to hosting ranked teams at PK Park. During the program’s five seasons playing in the park, the Ducks had played 32 games against teams ranked in the Baseball America top 25 and compiled an impressive 20-12 record in those games. In their first games of the 2015 season at PK Park, Oregon won the series finale against No. 16 Arizona State.
Ducks play 20 TV games during season: The Ducks will make 20 appearances on television during the 2015 regular season. Nine of the team’s 31 games at PK Park will be broadcast by the Pac-12 Networks while six of the Ducks’ 10 Pac-12 series will have all three games televised. The Pac-12 Networks will broadcast all three games at Arizona (March 27-29), the three-game series against Washington (April 24-26) in Eugene, the three-game set at Washington State (May 8-10), the three-game series at Utah (May15-17) and the final series of the season against UCLA (May 22-24) at PK Park. Oregon’s three-game conference series against Oregon State (April 10-12) will also be broadcast with ESPNU televising the Friday series opener and the Pac-12 Networks carrying the final two games. In all, five Civil War games against Oregon State will be televised with the Pac-12 Networks broadcasting non-conference games in Corvallis on May 5 and May 19.
Ducks picked second in preseason Pac-12 Coaches Poll: The Oregon Ducks are picked to finish second in the 2015 Pac-12 Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll. UO received 84 points behind only preseason favorite UCLA. The Ducks won 44 games in 2014 before ending their season with a loss to eventual National Champion Vanderbilt in the Nashville Regional. UO returns five position player starters this season plus a starter from the 2013 season that redshirted last season. Offensively, the Ducks will be led by 2014 first-team All-Pac-12 players Shaun Chase and Mitchell Tolman who combined for 16 home runs, 48 extra base hits and 86 RBI. The Ducks will feature a young pitching staff with only one player having more than 10 Division I starts on the mound. Cole Irvin, a 2013 freshman All-American, returns from a redshirt season and should develop into the team’s ace as he returns to full strength around the beginning of Pac-12 play.
Three Ducks named to preseason All-America Teams: Three Ducks were named to preseason All-America Teams heading into the 2015 season. SR C Shaun Chase, JR INF Mitchell Tolman and SO LHP Cole Irvin each earned a spot on at least one of the preseason teams.
Chase was named to two preseason All-America Teams earning Louisville Slugger second-team honors from Collegiate Baseball and third-team recognition from D1Baseball.com. Chase, a first-team All-Pac-12 pick as a junior, was named to the teams after putting together one of the top power seasons in college baseball in 2014. The Ducks catcher finished second in the country in home runs per at bat hitting a homer every 10.36 at bats, while tying an Oregon single-season record with 14 dingers. Chase, who led the Pac-12 in homers, ranked seventh nationally in home runs and home runs per game (0.26) while leading the Pac-12 in long balls. He batted .283, third on the Ducks’ team, while finishing with nine doubles and 37 RBI. His .634 slugging percentage set a new single-season record at Oregon.
Irvin also was named to a pair of preseason All-American teams. He joined Chase as a second-team pick on the Louisville Slugger team, while also being named third-team by the National Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Irvin was named to the teams despite missing the entire 2014 season after suffering an elbow injury and having Tommy John surgery. The 6-foot-3 left-handed pitcher was Oregon’s Saturday starter during the 2013 season and finished with a school-record 12 wins while wrapping up his freshman season with a 2.48 ERA, a 12-3 record and four complete games. He claimed freshman All-America honors by both the NCBWA and Louisville Slugger, while earning honorable mention all-league recognition. Irvin claimed Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honors twice, while being named the NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week once. He won both the national and conference award after throwing his first career complete game, a 6-0 shutout of Washington where he struck out a season-high 11. His second Pac-12 award came after he shut out Ohio State in a 4-0 win with seven strikeouts. Irvin was also named to the Eugene Regional All-Tournament Team after holding San Francisco to just one run on six hits with nine strikeouts. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native started the 2013 season as Oregon’s Sunday starter but moved to Saturday’s in early April. After the change, Irvin went 6-2 with a 1.92 ERA and three complete games in eight starts. He finished the season with seven straight quality starts, while tying teammate Tommy Thorpe with a team-high 12 quality starts during the season.
Tolman was named third-team preseason All-America by Perfect Game. The Ducks junior was named as a third baseman, the position he played for a bulk of his sophomore season. He batted .315 with two home runs and 49 RBI. Tolman also had a .438 on-base percentage and a .470 slugging percentage with 18 doubles and five triples.
Seven Ducks on D1Baseball.com’s list of Pac-12 top prospects: D1Baseball.com released its list of the Pac-12 Conference’s top 20 prospects per class in February and seven Ducks made the list. LHPs Garrett Cleavinger and Cole Irvin ranked among the prospects eligible for the 2015 MLB Draft. Cleavinger, Oregon’s closer, was the top ranked UO player at No. 5, while Irvin, who is battling back from Tommy John surgery, ranks 10th. Three Ducks who are eligible for the 2015 Draft made the list. Former first-round draft pick LHP Matt Krook, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and may miss the season, is ranked second while RHP Stephen Nogosek is ranked 12th in the class and SS Mark Karaviotis is 17th. D1Baseball also ranks the impact freshmen with UO LHP David Peterson checking in at No. 2 on the list and C/RHP Tim Susnara ranking 18th.
