Offensive Explosion Clinches First Ever Series Win at ASU

[Charles Fischer]

PHOENIX – Oregon used an offensive explosion in the middle innings to lock up its first ever series win over Arizona State on the road with a 15-5 win in the weekend finale Sunday.

 

The Ducks (31-21, 15-12 Pac-12) also broke the program single-season runs scored record with 391 on the year now, passing the old mark of 379 that was set last season.

 

How it Happened: After ASU struck first with a run in the first inning, Oregon responded with four runs in the third inning to take the lead. A trio of Ducks worked walks to load the bases before Drew Cowley drove in all three with a two-out double to make it 3-1. Josh Kasevich followed one batter later with a first-pitch single to score Cowley, giving the Ducks a 4-1 lead.

 

The Ducks added five more in the fourth inning to blow things open and take a 9-1 lead. After Gavin Grant drove in one run with a slash bunt, RBI single and a Colby Shade squeeze bunt scored two more, Brendan Milone came around to score on a double and two-base error to make it 8-1. Kasevich capped off the scoring in the inning with his second RBI of the day, this time on a double to score Cowley.

 

Oregon continued its onslaught in the fifth with two runs to open up a 10-run lead. Tanner Smith beat out an infield single to score Bennett Thompson before Grant came in to score on an error by ASU’s pitcher, stretching the lead to 11-1.

 

 

After ASU (25-27, 13-14 Pac-12) scored two in the bottom of the fifth, Jacob Walsh answered back for the Ducks in the sixth with a two-run shot to right center to make it 13-3. The Sun Devils added one more in the bottom of the inning but UO responded with two more after Cowley delivered an RBI single and Anthony Hall added a run-scoring double to cap off the scoring for the Ducks.

 

Box Score Notes: The Ducks won a road series against either Arizona or Arizona State for the second time in school history, with the only other time coming in 2012 against the Wildcats in Tucson … Oregon broke the program single-season runs scored record now with 391 on the season, topping the previous record of 379 that was set last season … The Ducks scored double-digit runs for the 13th time this year and 15 or more runs in a game for the eighth time … Cowley finished 3-for-6 while matching career-highs with four RBIs and three runs scored … Kasevich also went 3-for-6 while driving in a pair of runs … Hall doubled twice while going 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored … Milone also finished with a pair of doubles while scoring three runs, finishing 2-for-3.

 

Up Next: The Ducks will play four games at PK Park to end the regular season starting Tuesday, May 17 at 6 p.m. against Gonzaga.