I don't know which pitcher Oregon will face, but it will be between Nathan Aceves, (3.77) and Kellen Montgomery (3.86) of the Gauchos. We counter with Collin Clarke, (2.79 ERA) and it figures to be another low-scoring affair unless the Ducks can get the pitch count high enough to get their starter out.

It is hard to know if the offensive woes yesterday by Santa Barbara were due to a batting lineup in a slump, or if the pitching they faced was that good. Their starter was impressive, and our runs were scored on relievers. I do believe today, as yesterday, that we have a better batting lineup who can break through sooner in the game.

But you know how it goes...it all depends on how that pitcher is doing today. Sometimes we get snuffed by a pitcher in the high3s for ERA, and other times we have beat them up. And that is what makes the game so interesting to watch!

Today you will see a ton of a pitch you rarely saw yesterday; the change-up, and Clarke has a few variations that are darn hard to hit. He has a tendency to give up home-runs, but often--that is all they get, hence the low ERA.

Collin Clarke

0-0 after one inning. Ducks went down a bit too easy as batters, and Collin Clarke had two on base, but got out of it.

2-0 Gauchos after two innings. Ducks can't hit this opposing pitcher yet.

Collin Clarke gave up a hit, but then self-inflicted wounds began. He plinked a batter to have two on base, then an error by the 2nd baseman allowed a run to score...and then a wild pitch scored another run for UCSB.

2-0 Gauchos after three innings. Ducks got things going at bat, but stranded two on base....

Collin Clarke was not happy after last inning, and put them down 1-2-3...

2-0 Gauchos after four innings. Our Beloved Ducks are facing a pitcher who is hot-hot-hot...

Collin Clarke gave up a walk, but closed them down after that. He is not at his best today, but more than good enough to keep them scoreless.

4-2 Gauchos after five innings, as the Santa Barbara pitcher finally tired. With two outs--a flurry of four Oregon hits began. Ryan Cooney got a hit with a grounder up the middle, and Jax Gimenez got a hit through the right infield, while Cooney put on the jets to move to third. Then Dominic Hellman drove a hit through the right infield as well to score Cooney, and put Gimenez on third.

Drew Smith then hits to mid-CF to score Gimenez!

Then Collin Clarke got tired. Bottom line is that he gave up a slew of hits to allow two more runs.

4-2 Gauchos after six innings. Nothing from our batters, but Michael Meckna came in to relieve Clarke and did well with a 1-2-3 inning.

4-2 Gauchos after seven innings. Oregon is being tortured by opposing pitchers today, as their reliever is pretty darn good.

The Ducks new pitcher brought in, RS Freshman Blake Crawford, who had only pitched three innings this year, but must have inspired the confidence of the coaches. He delivered with a scoreless inning.

8-2 Gauchos after eight innings. Oregon did nothing at the plate, and our pitchers of Blake Crawford, Leo Uelmen and Cooper Markham gave up hits, walks, plinked batters and the floodgates opened against the good-guys.

Gauchos win 8-2 as my "pitching depth" did not deliver today. Ugly.