Ducks Finish Sweep of Utah, Visit No. 19 Gonzaga Tuesday

[Charles Fischer]

EUGENE, Ore. — Anthony Hall went 3-for-3 and gave Oregon the lead for good with a sixth inning solo home run in a 7-2 win over Utah on Sunday at PK Park.

 

The Ducks (13-6, 5-1 Pac-12) wrapped up a sweep of the Utes (11-7-1, 2-4 Pac-12) with the win and moved into sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 Conference with the three wins over Utah.

 

How It Happened: Oregon struck first scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Josh Kasevich led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a Hall base hit before scoring on a Josiah Cromwick ground out. One out later, Gavin Grant plated Hall with a RBI single giving the Ducks’ nine-hole hitter four RBI in the series.

 

Utah battled back to tie the game scoring single runs in both the third and fourth inning, before Oregon responded with a pair of home runs in a three-run bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good.

 

Hall broke the 2-2 tie lining the second pitch he saw over the right-field wall to put Oregon on top. After a Cromwick single and two outs, Tanner Smith made it a 5-2 game with a two-run homer against Utah starter Cam Day.

 

The Duck added to the lead with a run in the fifth. Brennan Milone singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a Jacob Walsh base hit and to third when Josh Kasevich grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

 

 

Hall delivered again, driving in Milone with a two-out single.

 

Oregon tacked on and unearned run in the bottom of the seventh. Colby Shade singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. Utah second baseman Landon Frei misplayed the throw from the catcher allowing Shade to move to third. Shade scored on a throwing error by Frei on a Kasevich ground ball that should have ended the inning.

 

Box Score Notes: Oregon used seven pitchers in the win … The six Ducks’ relieves combined to allow no runs on just three hits with one walk and eight strikeouts … Logan Mercado earned the win after entering the game in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs … He walked the first batter he faced before ending the threat with a strikeout … Oregon’s pitches combined for 12 strikeouts … Starter Caleb Sloan had four in 3.2 innings, while Stone Churby and Rio Britton had two each in an inning of work … Mercado, Dylan Sabia, Christian Ciuffetelli and Matt Dallas each contributed one K … Hall’s three-hit game was his seventh multi-hit game of the season and the 22nd of his career … Milone had his ninth multi-hit game of the season, including in all three Utah games … Smith had multiple RBI games for the second straight day, running his career total to 17 … Hall drove in multiple runs for the third time this season and the 14th time in his career … Oregon has won 12 straight against Utah.

 

Series Notes: The Ducks batted .347 in the series with seven home runs and three doubles … Milone paced the Ducks batting .636 (7-for-11) with two home runs, a double five RBI and three runs scored … Hall batted .600 (6-for-10 with two homers, a double, four RBI and six runs scored … Smith led the Ducks with six RBI in the series while belting a pair of homers … Oregon’s bullpen combined for 16 strikeouts and just two walks, while allowing three runs in 14 innings of work (1.93 ERA).

 

Up Next: The Ducks travel to Spokane to play No. 19 Gonzaga at 3 p.m. at Patterson Baseball Complex.

 

[Duck 1972]

It's tough to sweep anyone let alone the Ute who has a good club. The numbers are outstanding.